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ANGUS 


FO  RF  ARg  HIRE, 


LAND    AND    PEOPLE, 

DESCRIPTIVE  AND  HISTORICAL. 
BY 

ALEX.  J.  WARDEN,  F.S.A.  Scot., 

ALTHOn  UF 
"lUE  LINKS  Tn.VDE,"  AND  "THE  BUROH  LAWS  OF  DUXDEE." 

VOL.  IV. 

CHARLES  ALEXANDER  &  00. 


'.->.  ''"ft- 


MDCCCLXXXIV. 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


DUNDEE  :   PRINTED  AT  THE    "COURIER  AND  ARGUS  "  OFFICE, 


^0, 


THIS  WORK  IS, 

WITH     SPECIAL     PERMISSION, 
RESPECTFULLY     DEDICATED     TO 

Win  gioj^t  gaiTourabk 

Voz  Earl  of  Stvatbinove, 

LORD    LIEUTENANT   OF    FORFARSHIKE. 


719629 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  VOLUMES. 


Before  commencing  to  "  Angus  or  Forfarshire  "  in  1879,  the  Author  thought 
he  would  be  able  to  complete  the  work  in  three  volumes,  and  have  them  all 
pubhshed  within  three  years.  As  he  proceeded  with  the  work  the  subjects 
contemplated  to  be  included  in  it  widened,  and  matter  flowed  in  from  several 
quarters,  greatly  beyond  what  he  had  anticipated.  In  this  way  the  work 
increased  in  size,  and  the  publication  of  the  several  volumes  was  retarded. 

The  work  was  originally  intended  to  have  been  completed  in  three  volumes, 
but,  for  the  reasons  mentioned  in  the  Preface  to  the  third  volume,  that  could 
not  be  accomplished,  and,  with  a  few  exceptions,  his  Subscribers  kindly  agreed 
to  take  a  fourth,  or  probably  a  fifth  volume.  As  the  Author  proceeded  with  the 
fourth  volume  he  found  that  he  must  either  condense  the  work  materially,  or 
add  a  fifth,  though  smaller  volume.  After  consideration  he  thought  it  better 
to  complete  the  work  in  the  same  style  as  in  the  first  three  volumes,  and  to 
add  the  fifth,  which  is  somewhat  larger  than  half  of  the  full-sized  volumes. 
The  fourth  and  fifth  volumes  will  be  issued  together. 

In  the  compilation  of  "  Angus  or  Forfarshire  "  he  has  studied  to  introduce 
as  much  variety  in  the  matter  as  was  consistent  with  the  design  and  scope  of 
the  work.  In  order  to  have  it  as  complete  and  as  correct  as  possible,  he  has 
consulted  well  on  to  one  hundred  authorities,  and  he  made  personal  applica- 
tion for  information  to  every  person  whom  he  thought  able,  and  likely  to  be 
willing,  to  supply  him  with  correct  details  on  the  special  subjects  he  had  then 
in  hands,  and  with  the  view  of  having  the  information  received  from  one  source 
corroborated,  if  possible,  by  others.  Notwithstanding  all  the  care  he  has  taken 
to  have  the  work  free  from  errors,  he  fears  it  is  in  many  respects  im])crfect, 
and  he  begs  his  Subscribers  kindly  to  overlook  faults,  both  of  commission  and 
omission. 


^i  PKEFAOE. 


For  more  than  six  years  past  much  of  his  time  has  been  devoted  to  the 
collection  of  data,  and  arranging  it ;  and  latterly  to  revising  and  superintend- 
ing the  volumes  as  they  went  through  the  press.  To  him  the  work  has  been, 
in'^more  senses  than  one,  a  labour  of  love,  but  not  of  profit,  as,  thus  far,  it  has 
done  little  more  than  pay  the  cost  of  printing,  binding,  &c.,  &c. 

To  the  Eight  Honourable  The  Earl  of  Strathmore,  Lord  Lieutenant  of 
Forfarshire,  the  Author  is  under  a  deep  obligation  for  having  so  readily  given 
his  special  permission  to  the  Author  to  dedicate  "  Angus  or  Forfarshire"  to 
his  Lordship,  and  he  returns  his  humble,  but  hearty  and  grateful  thanks  to  the 
noble  Earl  for  his  great  kindness. 

The  Author  has  to  return  his  best  thanks  to  the  Pvight  Honourable  The 
Earl  of  SouTHESK  for  the  great  interest  he  has  taken  in  "  Angus  or  Forfar- 
shire" throughout  its  progress,  and  forgiving  him  many  interesting  details  which 
otherwise  might  not  have  been  available.  He  has  also  to  express  his  grati- 
tude to  the  noble  Earl  for  having  frequently  invited  him  to  the  Castle,  and 
for  the  great  kindness  of  his  Lordship,  the  Countess,  and  the  other  members 
of  the  family,  to  him  when  there. 

He  has  also  to  express  his  grateful  thanks  to  the  Eight  Honourable  The 
Earl  of  Camperdown  and  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie  for  the  encouragement 
they  have  given  him  ;  to  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  Bart,  of  Inverquharity,  and  Sir 
John  Kinloch  of  Kinloch,  Bart.,  for  the  information  supplied,  and  for  the 
personal  kindness  they  have  shown  him. 

He  has  also  to  thank,  most  warmly,  Patrick  Allan  Eraser,  Esquire  of 
Hospitalfield ;  Colonel  William  Blair  Imrie  of  Lunan;  Colonel  Erskine 
Erskine  of  Linlathen ;  and  Alexander  Anderson,  Esquire  of  Grange  of 
Monifieth,  for  much  information  supplied,  and  for  their  uniform  kindness  to 
the  Author  in  his  visits  to  them.     Also  to  John  Laing,  Esq.  of  Kellyfield. 

In  his  search  for  information  regarding  the  several  parishes  in  the  county, 
and  for  details  of  incidents  or  events  which  bad  taken  place  in  them,  he  had 
occasion  to  write  to  many  of  the  parish  ministers  to  solicit  their  aid,  and  he 
personally  visited  several  of  them.  Every  one  to  whom  he  wrote  replied 
promptly  and  most  courteously,  and  from  some  of  them  he  received  much 


PREFACE.  vii 

desirable  information  and  interesting  details.  Those  whom  he  visited  received 
him  kindly  and  most  hospitably,  and  to  each  of  them  he  tenders  his  sincere 
and  erateful  thanks.  He  has  to  offer  his  special  thanks  to  the  Eev.  James 
C-4:sAR,  Panbride ;  Eev.  Frederick  Cruickshank,  Lethnot  and  Navar ; 
Rev.  William  Duke,  St  Vigeans  ;  Rev.  William  Elder,  Tealing  ;  Rev. 
William  Paxton  Fraser,  Maryton  ;  Rev.  John  Reid,  Monikie  ;  and  to 
the  Rev.  James  Gerard  Young,  D.D.,  Monifieth,  each  of  whom  put  him- 
self to  nuicli  trouble  to  facilitate  the  Author  in  his  labours  and  researches. 
The  name  of  the  late  Rev.  Alexander  Milne  Davidson,  Kinnell,  would 
have  been  included  in  this  list  had  he  been  alive,  but  he  has  been  taken  home. 

The  Author  also  returns  his  grateful  thanks  to  John  Adamson,  Esquire 
of  Careston  ;  John  Clerk  Bkodie,  Esquire  of  Idvics  ;  Robert  Henderson 
Arkley,  Esquire,  Dun  ;  Sheriff  and  Mrs  Robertson  of  Burnside  ;  Mr  and 
Mrs  PowRiE  of  Reswallie  ;  Thomas  Macpherson  Bruce  Gardine,  Esquire 
of  Middleton  ;  also  to  John  Ogilvy,  Esquu-e,  Younger  of  Inshewan,  and 
Mrs  Ogilvy,  Hare  Craig,  and  Miss  Ogilvy,  Inshewan,  for  information 
kindly  supplied,  and  for  their  courtesy  towards  him  when  visiting  at  their 
respective  mansions ;  to  Captain  J.  Davidson,  solicitor,  Kirriemuir,  for  his 
kind  assistance  ;  and  to  Mr  Alexander  Mathewson,  farmer.  Wester  Braikie, 
for  information  about  Braikie  Castle. 

He  also  again  thanks  most  of  those  whose  names  are  mentioned  in  the 
Prefaces  to  the  earlier  volumes  of  the  work,  for  their  continued  encouragement 
and  kindly  feeling. 

The  Author  is  deeply  grateful  to  his  many  Subscribers  for  their  for- 
bearance with  him  in  the  irregular  publication  of  the  several  volumes 
of  the  work,  and  to  each  of  them  he  returns  his  warmest  thanks.  He 
intended  to  publish  another  volume  giving  an  account  of  the  Royal  Burghs 
in  the  county,  and  details  regarding  the  staple  trade  of  the  county ;  but  at  his 
long  age,  and  with  a  failing  memory,  he  does  not  think  he  would  be  able  to 
accomplish  the  great  labour  the  volume  would  entail,  and  he  hopes  the  many 
gentlemen  who  kindly  agreed  to  take  copies  of  the  volume  will  excuse  him 
for  not  attempting  to  carry  out  the  work. 


Vlll 


PREFACE. 


As  a  frontispiece  to  Volume  IV.  the  Author  is  giving  a  fac-simile  of  a  writ  or 
licence  by  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  Lord  Douglas  (Bell  the  Cat),  to  John 
Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  authorising  him  to  sell  the  lands  of  Crief  and  Littill 
Migvie,  in  the  regalitie  and  barony  of  Kerymuir,  to  whom  and  on  what  manner 
of  holding  he  thought  most  expedient,  he  being  always  tenant  to  the  Earl  of  the 
lands,  as  he  was  before  the  licence  to  sell  was  granted.  The  Earl  is  designed 
"  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  Lord  Douglas,  and  of  the  regalitie  and  barony  of 
Kyremuir.  The  licence  was  signed  at  Edinburgh,  the  first  day  of  July,  1511. 
It  is  written  on  a  long  narrow  piece  of  velkim.  The  Earl  of  Angus  was  the 
superior  of  Inverquharity,  and  the  Ogilvys  of  Inverquharity  were  vassals  of 
the  Earl. 

Glamis  Castle  is  one  of  the  oldest,  best  preserved,  and  most  historical 
mansions  in  the  kingdom.  It  possesses  so  great  a  general  interest  that  views 
of  it  have  been  often  taken.  The  Author  has  several  old  views  of  the  Castle, 
and  he  is  to  give,  as  a  frontispiece  to  the  last  volume,  a  view  of  the  Castle 
taken  upwards  of  a  century  ago.  T.  Sandby,  R.A.,  del.,  W.  Watts,  sculp., 
published  May  1st,  1782,  by  W.  Watts,  Chelsea.  The  Castle  had  then  a 
very  different  appearance  from  what  it  now  has,  it  being  then  surrounded  by 
a  high  wall,  and  having  many  trees  near  the  front  of  it. 

Underneath  another  view  of  the  Castle,  without  a  date,  '^  engraved  by  J. 
Storer,  for  the  Antiquarian  and  Topographical  Cabinet,  from  a  drawing  by 
the  Eev.  C.  Turner,"  is  the  following  somewhat  minute  description  of  the 
Castle. 

"  Glames  or  Glammis  Castle  originally  consisted  of  two  rectangular  towers, 
with  walls  of  great  thickness  connected  by  a  square  projection,  and  together 
forming  a  figure  something  like  the  letter  Z,  saving  that  in  the  Castle  all  the 
angles  are  right  ones.  It  is  a  place  much  celebrated  in  history,  principally 
for  the  murder  of  Malcolm  II.,  who  fell  here  by  the  hands  of  assassins,  in  a 
passage  still  shewn  to  strangers.  It  might  at  the  time  be  part  of  the  posses- 
sions of  the  family  of  the  famous  Macbeth,  who  tells  us  through  the  mouth  of 
Shakespear,  '  By  Sinel's  death  I  know  I  am  Thane  of  Glames,'  this  Sinel 
being,  as  Boethius  informs  us,  father  to  the  tyrant.     Probably  after  Macbeth's 


PREFACE.  ix 

death  it  became  forfeited,  and  added  to  the  possessions  of  the  Crown,  for 
on  the  accession  of  Robert  II.  it  was  bestowed  on  Sir  John  Lyon. 

"  The  most  ancient  part  of  this  Castle  remaining  is  a  tower,  which  has 
received  the  addition  of  little  round  turrets,  with  grotesque  roofs  ;  and  a  great 
round  tower  in  one  angle,  which  was  built  in  the  year  1606  by  the  restorer 
of  the  Castle,  Patrick,  Earl  of  Kinghorn,  in  order  to  contain  a  spiral  staircase, 
one  end  of  the  steps  resting  on  a  light  hollow  piUar,  continued  to  the  upper 
story. 

"  On  the  great  gate  of  the  inner  court  are  ballustrades  of  stone,  adorned  with 
statues  ;  and  in  the  court  are  four  brasen  statues,  larger  than  life,  on  pedestals  : 
James  VI.  of  Scotland,  and  I.  of  England,  in  his  stole  ;  Charles  L,  as  painted 
by  Vandyke  ;  Charles  II,  in  a  Pioman  dress  ;  and  James  II.  as  at  \\'hitehall. 
The  house  is  very  high,  consisting  of  a  tower  in  the  middle  witli  two  wings, 
and  a  tower  at  each  end,  the  whole  above  200  feet  broad.  The  stairs  from 
the  entry  to  the  top  of  the  house  consist  of  143  steps,  of  which  the  great  stairs, 
where  five  people  can  mount  abreast,  are  eighty-six  each  of  one  stone.  On 
the  first  floor  are  thirty-eight  rooms.  The  hall,  which  was  finished  in  1621, 
is  a  handsome  room,  adorned  with  family  pictures  ;  behind  the  hall  is  a  chapel, 
remarkable  for  the  elegance  of  its  architecture. 

"  This  Castle  stands  in  the  middle  of  a  well-planted  park,  with  avenues  cut 
in  various  directions  to  the  house." 

Since  the  chapter  on  Kinnettles  Parish  was  printed,  the .  estates  of 
Kinnettles  and  Invereighty  have  changed  hands.  They  formerly  belonged  to 
James  Patekson  of  Kinnettles  and  Invereighty.  The  former  has  been 
acquired  by  Joseph  Grimond,  Esq.,  Merchant,  Dundee,  now  of  Kinnettles. 
He  has  already  made  many  improvements  on  the  estate,  and  it  is  a  beautiful 
property.  The  latter  has  been  acquired  by  the  Right  Hon.  W.  E.  Baxter, 
of  Kincaldrum,  M.P.,  now  also  of  Invereighty. 

In  the  list  of  subscribers  to  The  Poems  of  Ossian,  published  by  Hugh  and 
John  M^Callum,  Montrose,  in  1816,  we  find  "  R.  Warden,  Esq.  of  Parkhill," 
in  the  Parish  of  St  Vigeans.  He  had  probably  succeeded  the  Ochterlonys  in 
the  property.    We  have  not  met  with  the  name  elsewhere. 


CONTENTS  or  YOL.  IV, 


PAET  XIV.— ANGUS  IN  TAm^EEH— Continued. 
Chap.     XXVIII.— Kettins, 

XXIX.— KiNGOLDRUM, 
XXX.— KiNNELL, 
,,  XXXI.— KiNNETTLES, 

XXXI*.— KiRKDEN, 

,,  XXXII.— Kirriemuir, 

„  XXXIII.— Dundee, 

,,  XXXIV.— Lethnot  and  Navar, 

„  XXXV.— Lite  and  Benvie, 

„  XXXVI.— Lintrathen, 

„  XXXVII.— LOCHLEE, 

„      XXXVIII.— LoGiE  Pert, 

„  XXXIX.— LUNAN, 

„  XL.— LUNDIE, 

,,  XLI.— Mains  and  Strathmartine, 

„  XLII.— Maryton,    . 

,,  XLIII.— Meiglk, 

,,  XLIV.— Menmuir, 
,,  XLV. — Monifieth, 

„  XLVI.— MONIKIE,        . 

„         XLVII.— Montrose, 
Index, 


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272 
300 
333 
351 
368 
413 
430 
441 


ANGUS    OR    FORFARSHIRE. 

PAET  XIV. 

ANGUS    IN    PAEISHES. 


Chap.  XXVIIT.— KETTINS. 

^HE  Church  of  Ketnys  belonged  to  the  Diocese  of  St  Andrews,  and  was 
^1  dedicated  by  Bishop  David  in  1249.  In  the  old  ecclesiastical  taxation 
it  was  valued  at  55  merks  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  239).  It  is  reported  to  have  had 
six  chapels  dependent  upon  it,  but  there  is  no  mention  of  chapels  in  the 
taxation,  as  is  done  with  other  churches  having  dependent  chapels.  The 
church  was  dedicated  to  S.  Bride  or  Bridget,  Virgin.    (Sculp.  Stones,  II.,  p.  3.) 

The  Hospital,  or  Domus  Dei,  of  Berwick,  appears  to  have  obtained  a  grant 
of  the  fruits  and  revenues  of  the  Church  of  Kettins  at  an  early  period.  These 
were  transferred  to  the  Trinity  Friars  of  Dundee  in  the  reign  of  Robert  III., 
on  the  condition  that,  while  the  town  and  Castle  of  Berwick  remained  in  the 
hands  of  the  Enghsh,  and  the  Hospital  could  not  uplift  the  revenues,  the 
Trinity  Friars  of  Dundee  should  retain  possession.  (His.  of  Dun.,  238.)  That 
monarch,  by  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  dated  about  1391,  contirmed  the 
foundation  of  the  Convent  of  Trinity  or  Red  Friars  in  Dundee,  which  had 
been  founded  a  year  or  two  previously  by  Sir  Jamos  Lindsay,  Knight,  and 
dissolved  the  Church  of  Kettins  from  the  Hospital  at  Berwick,  annexing  it 
to  the  Convent  of  the  Red  Friars  in  Dundee,  in  which  it  remained  until  the 
dissolution  of  the  monasteries  at  the  Reformation. 

The  patronage  and  teinds  of  Kettins  at  one  time  belonged  to  the  Church  of 
Peebles.     In   1536,   James  Paterson,   minister   of  Peebles   and   "  rector  of 
A 


2  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Ketnes,"  with  consent  of  his  brother  of  the  '•  Cors  Kirk  of  Pebles,"  granted  a 
lease  of  the  teind  sheaves  of  the  parish,  excepting  those  of  Balgoyff  and  the 
Mill,  to  George  Haliburton  of  tlie  Gask,  Alexander  Rattray,  and  Richard 
Small,  who,  in  the  original  deed  of  assignation,  are  designed  "  fermorarers  of 
ye  Kirk  of  Ketnis."  These  parties,  on  the  penult  (30th)  of  January,  1536, 
ao-reed  to  give  four  merks  yearly  out  of  the  teinds  to  "  Shir  David  Jak"  for  the 
period  of  five  years  for  his  thankful  service  and  labour  done  for  them  at  their 
command  to  the  minister  of  Peebles. 

It  is  not  known  how  the  connection  between  Peebles  and  Kettins  was 
formed,  nor  how  or  when  it  terminated.  The  local  tradition  is  that,  as  Peebles 
had  not  exercised  their  right  for  a  long  period  of  years,  their  right  to  the 
teinds  and  patronage  was  lost  by  prescription.  Although  we  do  not  know 
when  Peebles  lost  their  right,  it  is  certain  that  the  town  endeavoured  to 
exercise  their  old  rights  to  the  church  so  recently  as  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century. 

In  February,  1800,  the  Eev.  David  Symers  was  nominated  by  the  Crown  to 
the  Church  of  Kettins.  The  Magistrates  and  Council  of  Peebles,  who  claimed 
the  patronage,  presented  the  living  to  another  minister.  Both  the  Crown  and 
Peebles  laid  the  case  before  the  Court  of  Session,  who  found  for  the  Crown, 
and  on  7th  May,  1801,  Mr  Symers  was  ordained  to  the  charge  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Meigle. 

Although  we  have  not  met  with  any  historical  account  of  the  connection 
between  Peebles  and  the  Church  of  Kettins,  it  is  known  that,  according 
to  Fordoun,  on  7th  May,  1261,  there  was  found  a  venerable  cross,  which  had 
been  long  inhumed,  and  a  stone  box,  which  enclosed  the  cross,  bore  the 
inscription  : — "  The  Place  of  St  Nicolaus,  Bishop,"  who  had  been  martyred  in 
the  year  296  ;  and  near  to  the  same  spot  was  found  "  the  holy  reliques  of  the 
martyr's  body,  cut  asunder  in  bits  or  collips,  and  pieces  laid  up  in  a  shrine  of 
stone."  A  grand  church  was  built  on  the  spot  where  these  things  were  found, 
many  miracles  were  done  by  that  cross,  and  crowds  of  people  made  pilgrimages 
to  the  spot.  A  piece  of  the  true  cross  of  our  Lord  was  subsequently  added. 
Money,  land,  and  other  valuable  gifts  were  bestowed  upon  the  church  by  kings, 
nobles,  and  others,  and  the  patronage  of  Kettins  may  have  been  among  them. 
One  of  the  four  conventual  Churches  of  the  Holy  Cross,  called  Ministries, 
founded  for  Red  or  Trinity  Friars,  was  in  Peebles.  In  1621,  James  VI. 
granted  to  the  community  of  the  burgh  of  Peebles  all  the  chaplainries, 
altarages,  and  other  property  belonging  to  these  religious  houses,  including, 


Chap,  XXVIII]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KETTINS.  3 

there  is  little  doubt,  the  patronage,  &c.,  of  Kettins,  and  in  consequence  of  this 
grant  the  Magistrates  and  Council  of  Peebles  had  probably,  until  lost  by  pre- 
scription, as  mentioned  above,  the  patronage  and  fruits  of  the  Church  of 
Kettins.     (Fullarton's  Gazetteer  of  Scotland,  p.  494.) 

After  the  Reformation,  when  Protestant  ministers  were  scarce,  the  churches 
of  Kettins,  Bendochy,  and  Collace  were,  in  1,574,  served  by  James  Anderson, 
stipend,  £133  6s  8d,  and  James  Jameson  was  schoolmaster  or,  as  it  was 
then  called,  reader  at  Kettins,  salary,  £20  and  the  Kirk  lands.  (Wod.  MSS., 
355.) 

The  records  of  the  Kirk  Session  of  Kettins  contain  many  curious  entries, 
especially  in  connection  with  the  state  of  morality  in  the  parish.  When  a 
marriage  was  agreed  upon  the  two  parties  were,  in  this  parish,  as  in  others, 
generally  ecclesiastically  contracted,  and  consigned  certain  pledges  or  pawns, 
usually  some  articles  of  wearing  apparel,  that  they  would  fulfil  their  obligations, 
having  special  regard  to  the  fault  of  ante-nuptial  favours,  if  granted. 

In  Forfarshire  Illustrated,  p.  149,  it  is  said  :— "  In  Catholic  times,  the 
church  of  the  parish  of  Kettins  was  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  S.  Thomas,  the 
Apostle,  and  was  the  mother  church  of  six  chapels,  viz. — Pitcur,  Pettie  or 
Peattie,  South  Costown,  Mooryfolds,  Denhead,  and  the  sixth  at  the  south 
side  of  Kirkton,  or  village  of  Kettins."  Most  of  these  chapels  were  within 
small  enclosures,  which  were  used  as  burial  places.  (Sculptured  Stones, 
II.,  p.  3.) 

The  present  Parish  Church  of  Kettins  was  built  in  1768.       In   1870  the 

church  was  reseated,  and  a  vestry  and  library  were  added.       It  was  repaired, 

enlarged,  and  adorned  with  stained  glass  windows,  &c.,  during  the  summer  of 

1878.     The   windows  were  tiie  gift  of  Lord  Halybnrton.       Each  contains 

Scripture  subjects,  underneath  which  are  given  appropriate  texts  of  Scripture 

in  illumined  characters.      The  smaller  windows  are  adorned  with    suitable 

devices,  and  they  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  Church,  which  is  now  a 

much   more  comfortable   and  pleasing  structure  than  many   of  our  parish 

churches.     The  following  inscription,  in  relief,  is  on  the  church  bell : — 

Maria  Troon  es  minen  naem 

Meester  Hans  Popen  Reider  gaf  mi. 

Anno  Domini  MCCCCCXIX. 

The  bell,  though  363  years  old,  is  in  perfect  preservation,  and  apparently  little 

the  worse  for  its  long  service.       The  communion  plate  was  gifted  by  James 

Auchinleck  in  1636,  and  the  collection  plate  bears  the  date  1723. 


4  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIBE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  sciilphired  stone  which  for  a  long  time  was  used  for  bridging  the  burn 
which  passes  the  church  of  Kettins  has  now  found  a  resting-place  within  the 
chui-chyard  there.  It  has  been  erected  to  the  north  of  the  church,  and  close  by 
the  outer  wall  of  the  burying-ground.  It  is  placed  in  a  stone  socket,  to  which 
it  is  fastened  by  iron  stays.  The  stone  is  about  ten  feet  in  height  above  the 
socket,  into  which  it  enters  for  some  depth.  It  is  abont  42  inches  in  breadth, 
and  10  inches  in  thickness.  A  piece  about  15  inches  in  height,  and  all  the 
width  of  the  slab,  has  been  broken  off  from  the  obverse  or  front  of  the  stone. 
A  highly  ornamented  cross  has  adorned  the  slab,  with  designs  on  each  side  of 
it.  The  outline  of  the  cross  may  still  be  traced,  but  its  ornamentation  is  much 
defaced,  and  so  indistinct  that  we  cannot  with  certainty  say  what  it  has  been. 
The  other  figures  upon  the  slab  are  also  all  but  obliterated.  The  reverse  is 
devoid  of  sculpture,  and  the  centre  is  hollowed,  but  on  this  side  of  the  stone 
the  top  is  entire,  and  shows  its  original  length. 

In  the  olden  time  the  village  of  Kettins  had  its  Market  Cross,  which  stood 
near  the  south-east  corner  of  the  hamlet.  What  remains  of  the  Cross  now 
stands  in  the  churchyard  to  the  east  of  the  church. 

There  is  great  probability  that  in  early  times  a  Celtic  monastery  had  been 
erected  in  this  parish.  The  "  abdenrie  of  Kettins"  is  mentioned  by  Martin, 
p.  121,  Kel.  D.  And.,  and  certain  lands  in  Forfar  are  described  as  "  abden  of 
Kettins."  The  occurrence  of  the  word  '•  abthen"  as  descriptive  of  land  is  held 
to  point  out  the  territory  of  an  ancient  abbey.  This  belief  is  strengthened  by 
a  charter  of  about  1292-3,  in  which  Hugh  of  Over,  Lord  of  Ketenes,  granted 
"  his  well  in  his  lands  and  Abthenage  of  Ketenes,  called  Bradwell,  with  its 
aqueduct  bounded,  and  servitude  of  watergage"  to  the  Abbey  of  Cupar. 
Kettins  thus  appears  to  have  been  an  abthenage,  or  the  site  of  an  early  eccle- 
siastical establishment,  and  the  church  had  probably  been  dedicated  to  St. 
Bridget,  the  name  "  Bradwell"  appearing  to  be  a  corruption  of  Bride's  WeU. 
In  the  rental  of  lands  belonging  to  the  Priory  of  Resteneth,  the  lands  of  the 
Barony  of  Kethenys  are  entered  at  iiij.  hb.,  and  the  mill  of  Kethynnes  at  xi.s. 
Bishop  William  Lamberton  of  St  Andrews  (1298-1328),  the  true  friend  of 
Robert  I.,  built  residences  for  himself  and  his  successors  at  Kettins,  and  nine 
other  places,  likewise  ten  churches  in  his  diocese,  the  names  of  which  are  not 
given.    He  did  many  other  great  and  good  works. 

The  lands  of  Ardler,  Baldowrie,  Balunie,  and  Kettins  were  held  off  the 
Priory  of  Resteneth,  the  possessors  having  made  annual  payments  to  the  Prior, 
who  was  their  superior. 


Chap.  XXVIIL]      ANGCJS  IN  PAEISHES— KETTINS.  5 

A  family  had  assumed  their  surname  from  tiie  lands  of  Ardler  at  an  early- 
period.  David  II.  gave  Ingraham  Ardler  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Baleorie 
(Baldowrie),  whilk  William  Marshall  resigned.  (In.  to  Ch.,  54-13.)  John 
of  Areler  (Ardler)  got  from  the  same  monarch  a  cliarter  of  the  lands  of  Ardler 
and  Baldowrie,  ('Do.,  66-21.)  Daring  the  reign  of  the  same  Sovereign,  John 
of  Ardlere  gave  Patrick  of  Blair  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Ardlere  and  Bal- 
dowry,  <S:c.     The  charter  is  dated  at  Perth,  2d  March,  1369.     (Do.,  89-248.) 

In  1384,  Robert  II.  gave  a  charter  to  John  de  Ardler  of  an  annual  of  six 
merks  furth  of  the  two  towns  of  Kelor,  on  the  resignation  of  John  Kelor. 
(In.  to  Ch.,  124-10.) 

The  lands  of  Ardler  and  Baldowrie  were  long  possessed  by  the  family  of 
Blair  of  Balthayock,  Balgillo  in  Tannadice,  &c.  As  will  be  more  particularly 
mentioned  in  the  proprietary  account  ot  Baldowrie,  Thomas  Blair  had  a 
charter  of  Ardler  from  Robert  III.  (In.  to  Ch.  145-21.)  In  15U9 
another  Thomas  Blair  succeeded  his  father  in  the  estate.  The  same 
person,  or  another  of  the  same  name,  had  a  charter  of  same  lands  on  10th 
January,  1.542.     (Bar.,  188.; 

On  8th  February,  1601,  Alexander  Blair  was  served  heir  to  his  ftither 
Alexander  (Forfar  retour.  No.  41)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Ardler,  with  the 
Mill,  and  in  Baldowrie.  On  9th  May,  1620,  Thomas  Blair,  son  of  Alexander, 
was  retoured  (No.  127)  in  the  same  lands,  A.E,  £18  Gs  8d,  N.E  ,  £133  6s  8d. 

Some  time  after  the  date  of  the  retour  No.  127,  part  of  the  lands  of  Ardler 
had  been  acquired  by  the  family  of  Ilalyburton.  On  1st  June,  1680,  James 
Halyburton  of  Fodderance,  heir  of  his  father,  Alexander  of  Fodderance 
(now  Lintrose),  was  retoured  (No.  479)  in  the  lands  and  Barony  of  Ardler, 
united  in  the  barony  of  Ardler,  A.E.,  13s  4d,  N.E.,  4ra.  From  the  small 
valuation,  the  Fodderance  ftimily  had  probably  only  owned  a  portion  of 
Ardler.  Of  same  date,  he  was  retoured  (No.  480)  in  the  lands  of  Fodderance  ; 
and  in  part  of  the  land  and  barony  of  Ardler,  viz. — Mill  of  Ardler,  Officer  Land 
and  .Cro[)pieley  of  Ardler,  domibus  et  hortis  in  Ardler,  Foularlands  of  Ardler, 
and  pendicle  called  Heronhall,  in  the  parish  of  Kettins,  A.E.,  6s  8d, 
N.E.,  26s  8d. 

We  have  not  ascertained  when  the  Blairs  parted  with  the  whole  of  the 
barony  of  Ardler,  or  whether  the  whole  of  the  lands  were  purchased  l)y  the 
Halyburtons.  They  were  subsequently  acquired  frt)m  the  Halyburtons,  or 
directly  from  the  Blairs,  by  the  Mackenzie  family.  In  the  Valuation  of  1748 
Eoschaugh  (Mackenzie)  is  entered  for  Ardlair  and  Keillor  West  and  half  of 


6  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

East  Keillor.  In  1820  these  properties  were  owned  by  James  Stuart 
Mackenzie.  From  them  they  passed  to  the  Bute  family,  then  to  the  Right 
Hon^j!"  the  Earl  of  Wharncliffe,  a  descendant  of  that  family.  They  were 
acquired  from  his  Lordship  in  1869  by  Peter  Carmichael  of  Arthurstone,  who 
is  the  present  proprietor  of  Ardler  and  Arthurstone. 

Mr  Carmichael  has  recently  intimated  his  intention  to  erect  and  endow  a 
church  quoad  sacra  at  his  village  of  Ardler.  The  site  he  has  fixed  upon  is  very 
suitable.  The  village  is  at  a  considerable  distance  from  any  place  of  worship,  and 
the  new  church  will  be  a  great  convenience  and  a  blessing  to  the  families  living 
in  its  vicinity,  and  to  the  many  persons  from  Dundee  and  elsewhere  who 
sojourn  there  during  the  summer  months. 

The  lands  of  Arthurstone  formed  part  of  the  territories  possessed  by  the 
Abbey  of  Coupar,  and  they  are  frequently  mentioned  in  the  Rental  Book  of  the 
Monastery.  The  last  Abbot,  Donald  Campbell,  held  the  office  for  fully  thirty- 
six  years,  and  died  about  the  middle  of  December,  1562.  He  is  said  to  have  left 
five  illegitimate  sons,  to  each  of  whom  he  gave  an  estate  shortly  before  the 
abolition  of  the  monastic  houses.  These  landed  properties  were  Balgersho, 
Arthm'stone,  Keithick,  Denhead,  and  Croonan.  The  Abbot  was  farseeing, 
and  wise  in  his  generation.  These  properties  were  sold,  or,  as  we  say  now, 
feued,  the  possessors  paying  to  the  Convent  an  annual  sum  of  feu-duty.  On 
22d  December,  1561,  the  Privy  Council  ordered  a  return  of  the  whole  rental 
of  all  the  benefices  and  religious  houses  in  the  Kingdom.  In  that  return 
Arthurstone  is  given  at  £18  14s  Scots  of  silver  feu-mail,  together  with 
20  bolls  of  horse  corn,  15  whereof  was  set  in  feu  for  3s  4d  the  boll,  being  in 
money  £2  10s  Scots. 

The  lands  of  Arthurstone  appear  to  have  passed  from  the  Campbells,  the 
posterity  of  Abbot  Donald,  to  the  Murrays,  but  we  have  not  ascertained  the 
date.     In  1700,  they  sold  the  estate  to  James  Smith  of  Camno  and  Glasswall. 

Adam  Smith,  merchant  burgess  of  Dundee,  had  a  charter  under  the  Great 
Seal  from  James  V.  of  several  acres  of  land  in  the  lordship  of  Dudhope,  near 
Dundee,  dated  6th  December,  1535.  Henry  Smith,  his  son,  also  a  merchant 
burgess  in  Dundee,  succeeded.  He  was  the  father  of  John  Smith,  afterwards 
of  Glasswall,  who  lived  in  the  reigns  of  James  VI.  and  Charles  I.  He  is 
designed  in  writs  son  of  Henry,  and  was  bred  to  the  law.  He  was  Sheriff 
Clerk  or  Recorder  of  the  County  of  Angus,  and,  having  acquired  the  lands  of 
Glasswall  and  others  in  Angus,  was  designed  by  that  title.  Being  a  keen 
Royalist,  he  was  proscribed  by  Cromwell.    He  married  a  daughter  of  Andrew 


Chap.  XXVIIl.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KETTINS.  7 

Wylie,  a  wealthy  mercliant  in  Dundee.  By  her  he  had  a  son,  and  daughter 
Elizabeth,  married  to  Gilbert  Auchinleck  of  that  Ilk,  middle  of  17th  century. 
He  died  before  the  Eestoration. 

Henry,  his  son,  succeeded,  and  was  served  heir  to  his  father,  20th  August, 
1661.  He  acquired  the  lands  of  Camno,  &c.,  and  got  a  charter  under  the 
Great  Seal  to  Henry  Smith  of  Glasswall,  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Camno, 
&c.,  in  Perthshire,  3d  March,  1662.  The  last  named  barony  became  the  chief 
title  of  the  family.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Gilbert  Eamsay  of 
Banff,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  died,  1664. 
Henry,  the  second  son,  was  the  first  of  the  Smiths  of  Smithfield,  in  Monikie, 
James  Smith  succeeded  his  father  in  Camno.  In  1700  he  acquired  the  lands 
of  Arthurstone  from  John  Murray,  proprietor  thereof,  and  married  Grizel, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Watson  of  Wallace  Craigie,  Provost  of  Dundee,  by 
whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters.    He  died  at  Dundee  in  1739. 

Henry,  the  eldest  son,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David  Threipland  of 
Fingask,  but  died  before  his  father,  without  issue.  James,  the  second  son,  was 
a  merchant  in  Dundee,  and  married  Katheriae,  daughter  of  David  Durham  of 
Laws,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  James  died  before  his 
father,  and  his  son  James  became  heir  to  his  grandfather  in  1739. 
He  was  served  heir  to  his  grandfather  and  uncle  Henry,  and  had 
the  whole  estate  confirmed  to  him  by  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal. 
By  Agnes,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Kinloch  of  that  Ilk,  Bart.,  he  had  three 
sons  and  a  daughter.  He  died,  1763,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son 
James,  who  made  up  his  titles,  and  was  infeft  in  the  estate  by  a  charter  under 
the  Great  Seal. 

The  lands  of  Arthurstone  had  probably  been  acquired  from  the  Smiths  or 
their  representatives  by  George  Nicoll,  formerly  of  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  In 
1789  Captain  James  Piattray  purchased  the  lands  of  Arthurstone  from  George 
Nicoll.     (Vol.  II.,  p.  362.) 

The  mansionhouse  of  Arthurstone  was  erected  by  Colonel  Eattray  in  1797. 
He  died  at  Arthurstone  oti  24th  May,  1802.  A  stone  in  the  wall  has  the 
initials  W.  E,,  with  the  date  1797  below  them. 

In  1812,  Colonel  Eattray's  trustees  sold  the  lands  to  Ewan  Cameron  of 
Eassifern.  This  family  did  not  retain  them  long,  as  in  1817  Ewan  Cameron 
sold  the  property  to  James  M'Nab,  surgeon  in  the  service  of  the  Hon.  East 
India  Company.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  who  sold  the  estate  to  Patrick 
Murray  of  Simprim  in  183S.      A  daughter  of  Mr  M'Nab  was  married  to  J. 


8  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV- 

Erskine  Erskine  of  Linlathen.  Mr  Murray  was  a  son  of  Lord  Elibank,  and 
from  his  father  he  obtained  the  estates  of  Meigle,  Cardean,  and  others. 
He  died  on  24th  May,  1842.  From  his  representatives  the  estate  of 
Arthurstone  was  acquired  by  Peter  Carmichael,  merchant  in  Dundee.  He 
has  been  for  many  years,  and  still  is,  a  partner  of  the  great  manufacturing 
firm  of  Baxter  Brothers  &  Co.,  of  that  town.  Mr  Carmichael's  father  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  fiaxspinning  by  power,  having  had  a  spinning  mill  in 
the  Dens,  Dundee,  in  the  first  two  decades  of  this  century.  The  site  of  the 
mill  is  now  included  in  the  extensive  works  of  the  firm  of  which  his  son  is  a 
partner.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  James  Carmichael,  engineer  in 
Dundee,  of  whom  a  fine  statue  was  erected  in  Albert  Square,  in  1876.  The 
memorial  was  erected  by  the  citizens  of  Dundee,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  the 
genius,  engineering  talent,  and  private  worth  of  a  departed  citizen,  and  the 
statue  is  an  excellent  likeness  of  Sir  Carmichael. 

The  mansionhouse  of  Arthurstone  has  been  greatly  altered  and  im- 
proved by  Mr  Carmichael.  It  consists  of  a  building  of  three  floors,  in 
the  rear  of  which  are  several  handsome  structures  in  various  designs,  the  whole 
having  a  pleasing  appearance  from  every  point  of  view.  The  surrounding 
grounds  are  laid  out  with  much  taste.  On  the  lawn  are  clumps  of  varied 
shrubbery,  and  many  large  and  lofty  old  trees  are  on  the  estate. 

Arthurstone  derived  its  name  from  a  huge  monolith  which  stood  near  to 
where  the  mansionhouse  has  been  erected.  This  stone  was  associated  with  the 
legend  of  King  Arthur's  residence  with  his  fair  but  frail  Queen  Vanora  at 
Meigle.  This  famous  stone  was  wantonly  destroyed  about  the  year  1791-2, 
and  used  for  building  purposes.  The  companion  stone  still  stands 
at  the  west  gate  of  Belmont  (formerly  Kirkhill).  It  is  about  twelve 
feet  high  above  the  ground,  six  broad,  and  four  feet  thick.  It  has  many  cup 
markings  upon  it. 

The  lands  of  Baldowrie  were  held  off  the  Priory  of  Resteneth  as  superior. 
In  the  Chamberlain's  Rolls  in  13.59,  I.  344,  Robert  Ramsay,  Sheriff  of  Forfar, 
returns  that  there  is  nothing  to  be  charged  against  him  out  of  the  Ward  of 
Baldowry,  because  the  ward  of  the  lands  was  sold  by  Thomas,  Earl  of  Mar, 
the  Lord  Chamberlain,     This  was  in  the  reign  of  David  11.  (1329-1370.) 

The  lands  belonged  to  a  William  Marshall,  who  resigned  them,  and  the 
monarch  thereupon  granted  a  charter  of  Baldowrie  to  Ingraham  Ardler.  (In. 
to  Ch.,  54-13.)      David  II.  subsequently  granted  a  charter  of  the  lands  of 


Chap.  XLVIIL]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MUREOES.  9 

the  two  lower  spaces  into  three  parts  each.  lu  the  upper  three  there  appear 
to  be  some  old  English  letters  in  eacli,  with,  perhaps,  armorial  bearings 
in  each  of  the  three  lower  compartments  ;  but  the  stone  is  high  up  in  the  wall, 
and  the  figures  partly  obliterated,  so  that  we  are  unable  to  say  definitely  what 
is  upon  the  stone. 

The  modern  mansionhouse  of  Ballumbie  is  a  large,  handsome,  commodious 
house  of  three  floors.  It  stands  at  a  short  distance  south-east  from  the  castle, 
on  an  elevated  site,  and  having  an  extensive  view  in  some  directions,  especially 
to  the  south.  The  grounds  around  the  mansion  are  tastefully  laid  out,  and 
there  is  a  profusion  of  fine  shrubbery  and  many  noble  old  trees.  A  little  to 
the  west  of  the  house  there  is  a  very  large  ash,  which  local  tradition  says  was 
planted  by  Grizzel  Jaffray,  who  was  tried  and  executed  for  witchcraft  in  the 
Seagate,  Dundee,  between  the  11th  and  23d  November,  1669.  The  tree,  at 
six  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  measures  fifteen  feet  in  circumference, 
and  is  of  great  height.  There  are  several  other  very  large  old  trees,  beech, 
plane,  &c.,  in  the  grounds,  and  other  large,  handsome  trees  of  various  sorts, 
though  not  so  old  or  great  as  are  the  aged  giants. 

William  M'Gavin,  merchant  in  Dundee,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
James  Lindsay,  merchant  in  Dundee,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  sons  and 
daughters,  the  only  survivor  being  Kobert,  proprietor  of  the  barony  of  Bal- 
lumbie, Baldovie,  Drumgeith,  and  part  of  Craigie.  William  M'Gavin  died  1st 
December,  1843,  and  Mrs  M'G-avin  on  10th  December,  1868.  Robert  is  a  J.P. 
and  Commissioner  of  Supply  for  the  County  of  Forfar. 

ARMORIAL  BEARINGS  OF  ROBERT  M'GAYIN  OF  BALLUMBIE. 

Arms. — Per  pale  gules  and  azure,  a  boar's  head  couped,  or ;  on  a  chief  mdented  argent, 

three  fleurs-de-lis,  of  the  first. 
Crest. — A  wyvern's  head  issuant,  vert,  vomiting  flames  of  fire,  gules. 
Motto. — God  Send  Grace. 

The  lands  of  Brichty  at  an  early  period  belonged  to  John  de  la  Hay,  Lord 
of  Tillybothwell.  He  resigned  them  to  John  Montealt,  Lord  of  Fern. 
Richard  of  Montealt,  Chancellor  of  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin,  disposed  of  the 
lands  of  Brichty  to  Sir  Alexander  Lindsay  of  Glenesk.  The  charter  is  dated 
at  Innerlunnan  on  20th  December,  1379,  and  is  witnessed  by  Sir  John  Lyon, 
knight,  Camerario  Scocie,  or  Chamberlain  to  the  King,  and  his  son-in-law,  and 
by  Sir  Walter  of  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Forfar  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  493). 

The  lands  remained  for  some  time  in  the  hands  of  the  Lindsays.     In  1421 

B 


10  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Euphemia,  sister  of  the  first  Earl  of  Crawford,  had  a  liferent  therefrom. 
Brichty  passed  from  the  Lindsays  to  the  Fothringhams  and  Arbuthnotts.  In 
1450  Alexander,  Earl  of  Crawford,  gave  a  charter  of  Wester  Brichty  to  David 
Fothiingham  of  Powrie.  Hugh,  the  son  of  Robert  Arbuthnott  of  that  ilk, 
who  married  the  heiress  of  Balmakewan,  was  designed  of  Brichty  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  John  Arbuthnott  was  one  of  an  assize  on  29th  April,  1514 
(H.  of  C.  of  S  ,  527).  The  lands  of  Brichty  were  subsequently  wholly  acquired 
by  the  Fothringhams  of  Powrie,  and  they  now  form  part  of  the  Powrie  estate. 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Crawford,  gave  a  grant  of  20  merks  annually  out  of  his 
lands  of  West  Brichty  to  the  Altar  of  St  George  the  Martyr,  in  the  Church 
of  St  Mary  in  Dundee.  Confirmed  by  James  I.,  29th  April,  1429.  (Reg.  Ep. 
Br.) 

The  Earls  of  Angus  were  superiors  of  the  lands  of  Gagie.  The  lands  appear 
to  have  been  divided  into  two  parts  in  early  times,  each  of  which  was  held  by 
distinct  proprietors.  The  one  portion  appears  to  have  been  called  Gagie  or 
Easter  Gagie,  and  the  other,  for  a  time,  Wester  Gagie.  It  is  only  in  a  few 
cases  we  can  say  which  of  the  two  we  are  treating  of.  In  the  Valuation  Roll 
of  1683  Gagie  is  entered  thus  : — Easter  Gagie,  value  £100  ;  Guthrie  or  Wester 
Gagie,  value  £183  6s  8d.  In  1822  the  first  is  also  named  "  Easter  Gagie  " 
and  the  second  "  Wester  Gagie." 

The  Olifers  or  Olivers  were  proprietors  of  the  lands  of  Gagie  at  an  early 
period.  David  Oliver  is  designed  of  Gagie  in  1457  (Cog.  de  Aberb.).  David 
Oliver  of  Gagie  was  one  of  an  assize  at  a  retour  of  service  of  John  Carnegie  at 
Dundee,  1  Gth  May,  1508  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  524).  He,  or  another  of  the  same  name, 
was  at  a  retour  of  service,  7th  May,  1519  (Reg.  de  Pan,  292.).  Gagie  passed 
from  the  Olifers  to  the  Sibbalds  of  Rankeilor,  but  we  have  not  learned  the 
date.  In  1610  the  Sibbalds  sold  the  property  to  William  Guthrie,  second  son 
of  Alexander  Guthrie  of  that  ilk,  and  brother  of  Alexander,  who  succeeded  his 
father,  Alexander,  in  Guthrie.  William  Guthrie  acquired  ilavensby,  in  Barry, 
from  John  Cant,  on  11th  June,  1603,  and  was  designed  of  Eavensby.  He 
had  a  portion  of  Halton  and  Milton  of  Guthrie,  29th  December,  1574.  He  is 
said  to  have  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  Leslie  of  Balquhain.  The  Guthrie 
arms  are  on  the  lintel  of  the  summerhouse  at  Gagie,  with  the  date  1614.  A 
shield  on  the  front  of  the  wall  of  Gagie  house  bears  the  Leslie  arms,  with  the 
letters  I.L. 

On  20th  April,  1603,  Robert  Lundy  of  Balgonie  was  served  heir  to  his 


Ohap.  XLVIII.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MUREOES.  11 

father  Robert  (No.  34)  in  the  lands  of  Wester  Gagie,  in  the  regality  of  Kirrie- 
muir—A. E,  40s,  N.E.  £10.  The  Lundys  had  held  them  some  time  before 
the  date  of  that  retour. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  17th  century  Finlayson,  Provost  of 

Dundee,  was  designed  of  Gagie.  Walter  Lyel],  Town  Clerk  of  Alontrose,  or 
his  son,  married  a  daughter  of  Provost  Finlayson  of  Gagie.  On  24th  March, 
1629,  Alexander  Guthrie,  heir  of  WilHam  Guthrie  of  Wester  Gagie,  was  re- 
toured  (No.  180)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Wester  Gagie.  On  4th  May,  1647, 
Francis  Guthrie  of  Gagie  married  his  cousin,  Bathia,  daughter  of  Bishop 
Guthrie,  who  had  acquired  tlie  estate  of  Guthrie.  Francis  died  before  4th 
April,  1665,  as  on  that  day  his  son  John  was  served  heir  (No.  412)  to  liis 
father  in  the  lands  of  Wester  Gagie  ;  and  in  the  lands  of  Guthrie,  &c.,  in  right 
of  his  mother,  heiress  of  Bishop  Guthrie.  The  Laird  of  the  estate  of  Gagie,  a 
younger  branch  of  the  family,  thus  became  the  chief  of  the  name  of  Guthrie. 

A  stone,  having  the  family  arms  carved  upon  it,  stood  over  the  old  entrance 
to,  or  court-gate  of,  Gagie.  The  initials  I.G.  :  T.H.  and  the  date  1737  were 
also  on  the  slab.  The  initials  are  those  of  John  Guthrie  of  that  ilk  and  his 
wife,  Jean,  a  daughter  of  Eev.  James  Hodge,  minister  of  Longforgan.  Their 
son  became  the  twelfth  Baron  Guthrie.  The  estates  of  Guthrie  and  Gagie, 
&c.,  have  ever  since  continued  in  the  chief  of  the  old  family  of  Guthrie  of  that 
ilk.  John  Guthrie  had  also  two  daughters  by  Jean  Hodge.  One  of  them 
was  married  to  John  Scrymgeour  of  Tealing,  and  the  other  to  William  Alison, 
merchant,  Dundee. 

The  mansionhouse  of  Gagie  is  not  a  large  building,  but  it  affords  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  accommodation,  and  in  its  palmy  days  had  been  a  pleasant 
residence.  It  is  on  the  south  or  right  bank  of  the  Murroes  burn,  v/hich,  there, 
is  a  tiny  stream.  The  site  is  little  if  at  all  above  the  level  of  the  surround- 
ing land,  and  the  view  from  the  house  is  limited  by  the  situation,  and  more  so 
by  the  stately  old  trees  in  its  vicinity.  The  chateau  of  Gagie  bears  evidence 
that  it  had  been  capable  of  affording  some  protection  to  its  occupants  if  at- 
tacked by  ordinary  marauders.  A  good  garden  adjoins  the  mansion,  in  which 
there  are  four  magnificent  Irish  yews,  which  form  a  cluster  so  close  that  there 
is  little  room  to  walk  among  them,  and  overhead  they  run  into  each  other, 
forming  a  dense  impervious  mass,  some  thirty  feet  in  height.  In  front  of  the 
house  is  a  "  loupin'-on-stane,"  or  steps  for  assisting  one  to  get  on  horseback. 
This  was  a  necessary  adjunct  when  the  laird  and  lady  went  to  church  or  market 
on  the  back  of  one  horse,  the  laird  astride  a  saddle,  and  the  lady  on  a  pi^J-i*-*^ 


12 


ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 


behind  hi-m,  with  her  arm  round  his  waist  to  keep  her  secure.  This  good 
homely  custom  has  been  long  discontinued,  and  it  would  surprise  the  dwellers 
in  town  or  county  to  see  a  couple  so  mounted  now-a-days. 

The  lands  of  Murroes  formed  part  of  the  territory  of  the  Earls  of  Angus. 
They  afterwards  came  into  possession  of  the  Earl  of  Crawford.  In  1473  Alex- 
ander, Earl  of  Crawford,  gave  Eichard  Lovell  of  Ballumbie  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Douglas,  whom  the  Earl  styles  "  his  oye  "  (grandchild),  a  charter  of 
the  lands  of  Murroes.  The  lands  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  the 
Fothringhams  of  Powrie.  They  had  a  mansion  on  that  property,  as  well  as  on 
Wester  Powrie.  (^chterlony  says  it  was  a  good  house,  and  a  sweet  pleasant 
place.  The  lands  of  Murroes  were  subsequently  acquired  by  the  Guthries, 
and  they  form  part  of  the  estate  of  Gagie,  and  belong  to  the  trustees  of  the 
late  John  Guthrie  of  Guthrie,  for  behoof  of  the  family  of  Guthrie.  There  is 
an  excellent  steading  and  a  good  farm  house  close  by  the  east  bank  of  the 
Murroes  burn. 

Gilbert,  third  son  of  Gilebride,  second  Earl  of  Angus,  got  a  charter  from 
King  WiiUam  the  Lion,  in  which  he  is  described  as  "  Gilbert,  son  of  the  Earl 
of  Angus,"  terrarum  Powrin,  Oguluive,  and  Kyneithin.  There  are  two 
transumptsof  this  charter  in  existence,  one  of  the  date  14th  February,  1577,  in 
the  Fothringham  charter  chest  (Bal.  M.S.).  The  Fothringhams  are  the  present 
proprietors  of  Wester  Powrie.  The  other,  dated  26th  July,  1631,  is  in  the 
charter  chest  of  Wedderburn  of  Birkhill,  the  present  proprietor  of  Easter  Powrie. 
The  latter,  which  is  "  under  the  hands  of  Sir  J.  Hamilton  of  St  Magdalen's, 
Clerk  PiCgister,"  declares  that  the  original  charter  was  torn,  and  in  a  perishing 
state  through  age.  These  transumpts  show  that  the  original  charter  is  with- 
out date,  a  circumstance  common  to  the  time  ;  indeed,  many  of  King  William's 
charters  are  undated.  It  was  given  in  the  lifetime  of  Gilbert's  father, 
Gilebride,  and  the  best  authorities  adjudge  it  to  the  year  1172.  From  the 
lands  of  Ogilvy,  the  ftimily  of  Gilbert  took  their  surname,  the  adoption  of 
surnames  coming  at  this  time  first  into  use.  The  word  Ogilvy  is  variously 
spelled  in  ancient  times,  but  it  is  the  same  with  most  proper  names,  which,  in 
the  same  document,  are  sometimes  spelled  in  several  ways. 

The  lands  of  Ogilvy,  together  with  Easter  Powrie,  passed  down  from 
Gilbert  in  an  unbroken  male  descent  for  a  period  of  nearly  five  hundred 
years.  The  last  possessor  of  them,  and  last  of  the  family,  distinguished  as  that 
of  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  chiefs  of  the  name,  was  Thomas  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  or 


Chap.  XLVm.]     AIn-GIJS  IN  PARISHES.— MURROES.  13 

Powrie  Ogilvy,  as  he  was  sometimes  called,  the  devoted  adherent  and  friend  of 
the  Marquis  of  Montrose,  by  whose  side  he  fell  at  the  battle  of  Corbiesdale  in 
1650  (Bal.  MS.). 

The  lands  of  Wester  Powrie  had,  at  an  early  period,  been  granted  to  a 
Malcolm  de  Powrie.  He  had  probably  been  a  member  of  the  Ogilvy  family, 
and  taken  his  surname  from  the  lands,  and,  dying  without  heir  of  his  body, 
they  had  reverted  to  Ogilvy  of  that  ilk,  the  superior.  "  Alexander  de  Ogilvyle, 
dominus  ejusdem,"  gave  a  charter  ratifying  to  his  cousin,  Walter  de  Ogilvyle, 
son  of  the  late  Walter  de  Ogilvyle,  son  of  the  deceased  Patrick  de 
Ogilvyle,  his  granduncle,  the  charter  of  the  lands  of  Wester  Powrie,  which  his 
(Alexander's)  father,  Patrick  (apparently  sixth  in  descent  from  Gilbert),  Lord 
of  the  same,  had  granted  to  his  uncle  Patrick,  and  Marjory,  his  wife.  This 
charter  narrates  that  these  lands  are  to  be  held  under  the  like  feudal  conditions 
as  the  late  Malcolm  de  Powrie  held  the  same.  There  is  no  date  to  the  charter 
by  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  which  is  confirmed  under  the  Great  Seal  at 
Aberdeen,  2d  August,  1428  ;  but  from  the  names  of  the  witnesses,  it  is  con- 
cluded that  it  must  have  been  given  between  the  years  1354  and  1359.  A  full 
translation  of  this  charter  is  in  the  Inverquharity  charter  chest. 

Regarding  the  above-mentioned  charter,  Douglas,  Vol.  L,  p.  28,  says : — 
"  Patrick  de  Ogilvy  obtained  from  his  nephew,  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  that  ilk, 
to  himself  and  Marjory,  his  wife,  the  lands  of  Wester  Powrie,  which  were  pos- 
sessed by  the  late  Malcolm  de  Powrie.  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Lintrathen 
ratified  to  Walter  de  Ogilvy,  grandson  of  Patrick  Ogilvy  and  Marjory,  his 
spouse,  charter  of  the  lands  of  Wester  Powrie,  which  had  been  granted  to  his 
said  grandfather  and  grandmother.  It  was  confirmed,  2d  August,  1428,  by 
charter  under  the  Great  Seal." 

In  1333-4  the  third  Lord  Walter  de  Ogilvile  is  mentioned  in  the  Reg.  de 
Aberb.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  58.  This  was  probably  Walter,  second  of  Wester  Powrie, 
who  married  the  heiress  of  Sir  Malcolm  Ramsay  of  Auchterhonse,  hereditary 
Sheriff"  of  Angus,  and  at  whose  death,  between  the  years  1365  and  1369,  he 
succeeded  to  Auchterhonse  and  the  heritable  Sheriifdom  of  Angus  (MS.  Bal- 
dovan).  We  do  not  find  Walter  Ogilvy  in  the  Eeg.  de  Aberb,,  but  Alex,  of 
Ogilwill  is  mentioned,  p.  190, 1250  year,  and  Patricio  de  Ogilvill  is  mentioned, 
p.  339,  circa  1328. 

Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  Lord  of  Auchterhouse,  and  fourth 
and  last  of  Wester  Powrie  (son  of  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy,  the  Sheriff,  slain  at  the 
battle  of  Glasclune  in  1392),  sold  and  conveyed  the  lands  of  Powrie  Wester  to 


U  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Thomas  Fotliringham  in  1412  (M.S.B.).  On  i^Stli  August,  1428,  charter  of 
ratification  by  David  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  of  a  charter  by  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of 
Auchterhouse,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and  Justiciar  to  the  north  of  the  Forth,  con- 
firming a  charter  of  Wester  Powrie,  which  Thomas  Fothringham  acquired  in 
1412,  to  be  held  off  John  de  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy.  Andrew  de  Ogilvy,  Lord  of 
Glen,  is  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the  charter  (Foth'"- Writs). 

On  12th  June,  1593,  James,  Earl  of  Buchan,  heir  of  Earl  John,  of  Auchter- 
house, his  great-grandfather,  was  retoured  in  the  lands  of  Powrie— A.E.  — , 
N.E.  £12.  On  27th  August,  1601,  Master  John  Ogilvie  of  Ogilvie,  heir  of 
Gilbert  Ogilvie  of  Ogilvie,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  22)  in  the  lands  and  barony 
of  Ogilvy,  with  the  mansion  and  mill  of  the  same,  comprehending  the  lands  of 
Easter  Powrie  ;  the  lands  of  Wester  Powrie— A.E.  £18,  N.E.  £72.  On  19th 
January,  1610,  Gilbert  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  heir  of  Master  John  Ogilvy  of  the 
same,  was  retoured  (No.  69)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Ogilvy,  comprehend- 
ing the  lands  of  Easter  Powrie— A.E.  £12,  N.E.  £48  ;  and  in  lands  in  other 
places.     These  retours  may  be  of  the  superiority  only. 

In  the  Aldbar  Miscellany  MS.,  p.  363,  it  is  said  of  Powrie  Wester,  "  Alex- 
ander Ogilvy,  Lord  of  the  same>  son  of  the  late  Patrick  Ogilvy  and  Marion,  his 
spouse,  sold  the  lands  of  Wester  Powrie  and  mill  between  1354  and  1358." 
In  the  Genealogy  of  the  Wedderburns,  p.  106,  it  is  said  of  same  lands,  of 
Powrie  Wester : — "  This  property  vras  acquired  in  marriage  with  a  daughter 
of  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse  about  the  year  1399." 

One  account  of  the  acquisition  of  Wester  Powrie  by  the  Fothringhams  is  as 
follows  : — "  The  lands  of  Wester  Powrie,  which  belonged  to  Malcolm  de  Powrie, 
of  whicli  John  Ogilvy  of  Easter  Powrie  was  the  superior,  are  said  to  have  been 
given  to  John  of  Fothringham  on  iiis  marriage  with  a  daughter  of  Ogilvy  of 
Auchterhouse"  (K  &  J.,  I.,  p.  122).  Douglas,  I.,  p.  29,  says :— "  Wester 
Powrie  belonged  to  Malcolm  of  Powrie,  and  it  passed  to  Patrick  de  Ogilvy, 
second  son  of  the  compatriot  of  Bruce ;  but  there  is  some  difficulty  in  recon- 
ciling the  transfers  of  the  two  Powries  in  these  early  times." 

We  think  the  account  we  have  given  above  of  the  acquisition  of  Wester 
Powrie  in  1412  is  the  correct  one.  The  Ogilvys  retained  the  superiority  of 
both  Powries  long  after  the  Fothringhams  got  Wester  Powrie.  We  were 
desirous  to  have  given  a  historical  account  of  the  old  family  of  Fothringham, 
but  having  never  seen  a  connected  account  of  the  family,  we  can  only  give  sucli 
notices  of  the  race  as  we  have  met  with,  and  these  as  nearly  in  clironological 
order  as  we  can  conveniently  arrange  them. 


Chap.  XLVIII.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MURROES.  15 

It  is  traditionally  supposed  that  the  Fothringharas  were  originally  Hun- 
garians, and  that  the  first  member  of  the  family  came  from  that  country  with 
the  Queen  of  Malcolm  Canmore.  Henry  of  Foderingeye,  who  owned  lands  in 
Perthshire,  did  homage  to  Edward  I.  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed  in  1296,  They 
were  then  an  old  family  bearing  arms  (ermine  three  bars).  Henry  Fothringham 
was  a  witness,  12th  February,  1364-5  (Reg.  Ep.  Br.,  I.,  p.  20).  Thomas,  son 
of  Henry  of  Fodringhay,  had  a  confirmation  charter  of  the  lands  of  Balewny, 
in  Kettins  parish,  fi'om  Eobert  XL,  in  1378  (In.  to  Ch.,  122-109).  There 
was  a  Sir  Hugh  Fothringham,  knight,  about  1730  (L.  Sc.  Seals). 

We  have  shown  above  that  Thomas  Fothringham  acquired  the  lands  of 
Wester  Powrie  in  1412.  The  charter  was  confirmed  to  him  by  David  Ogilvy 
of  Ogilvy  on  2Sth  August,  1428.  Since  then  the  lands  have  remained  in  pos- 
session of  the  family  of  Fothringham,  and  no  part  of  the  Fothringham  lands 
has  ever  been  entailed. 

Henry  Fothringham  of  Powrie  is  mentioned  on  10th  February,  1435  (Reg. 
Ep.  Br.,  II.,  p.  90),  and  on  16th  :^Iay,  1448  (do.,  I.,  p.  117).  David  Fothring- 
ham was  a  witness,  21st  July,  1450  (do.,  p.  79  and  141).  Thomas  Fothring- 
ham is  mentioned  in  1454,  and  James  Fothringham,  all  of  Powrie, 
on  19th  April,  1458  (Do.,  p.  185).  Thomas  is  again  mentioned  in 
1472,  and  as  a  witness  in  1475,  He  was  an  M.F.  1481  to  1485.  In  his 
youth  he  was  the  friend  of  David,  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  after  the  Earl  was 
created  Duke  of  Montrose,  he  was  the  familiar  squire  and  one  of  the  Councillors 
of  the  Duke  (Lives,  p.  145).  On  16th  July,  1481,  the  Dnke  gave  him  a 
charter  of  additional  lands,  which  was  confirmed  on  13th  January,  1481-2. 
Thomas  is  mentioned  in  the  "  Lives,"  p.  456,  on  29th  October,  1488.  Nicholas, 
son  of  Thomas  Fothringham,  is  mentioned  in  March,  1481-2.  He  attempted 
to  deprive  the  widowed  Duchess  of  Montrose  of  the  lands  of  Dunbog,  in 
Glenesk,  about  the  year  1488.  These  lands  were  part  of  the  terce  of  the 
Duchess.  About  1490  Fothringham  of  Powrie  laid  in  wed  for  Sir  David 
Lindsay  of  Edzell  to  Bishop  Thomas  of  Aberdeen  "  a  cop  and  a  cower  of  silver 
our  gilt,  and  a  saltfut  of  silver"  (L.  of  L.,  p.  32). 

In  the  close  of  the  15th  century,  John  of  Fothringham  was  charged  xii.  merks 
and  three  wedders,  or  half  a  chalder  of  victual,  for  the  Mill  of  Fern.  On  13th 
February,  1502,  James  Fothringham  founded  a  chapel  in  Dundee  to  the  Re- 
ligious Sisters  of  St  Francis.  Thomas  Fothringham  was  one  of  an  assize  at 
the  service  of  John  Carnegie  of  Kinnaird  on  16th  May,  1508  (H.  of  C.  of  S., 
524).    William  Scrimgeour  of  Dudhope  married  Helen,  daughter  of  Thomas 


16  ANGUS  OR  rORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Fothrlngham,  in  the  first  half  of  the  16th  centarj  (Craw.,  116).  About  the 
beginning  of  the  16th  century  Thomas  Fothringham  married  Helen,  daughter 
of  Sir  Robert  Murray  of  Abercairnie.  About  the  middle  of  the  16th  century 
Thomas  Fothringham  married  Helen,  daughter  of  the  Master  of  Lindsay  of 
the  Byres  (Craw.,  86).  He  was  a  member  of  the  Parliament  of  1560.  John 
Fothringham  was  one  of  the  Commissioners  for  Dundee  at  the  Convention  of 
Estates  held  at  Perth  in  July,  1569. 

John  Carnegie  of  Carnegie  married  Catherine  Fothringham.  She  is  men- 
tioned as  his  spouse  1580-90  (Craw.  MS.  Notes  ;  L.  of  L.,  195).  Early  in  the 
17th  century  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Sir  John  Gibson  of  Durie,  afterwards  Lord  Durie  (Bar.,  569).  Their  initials 
T.F.  and  M.G.,  with  date  1642,  are  in  the  Church  of  Murroes. 

Sir  John  Ogilvy,  sixth  Baron  of  Inverquharity,  who  succeeded  his  grand- 
father, married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie,  about 
1520.  Thomas  Fothringham  married  Jean,  daughter  of  David  Kinloch,  who 
was  born  1560  and  died  1617.  James  Kinloch,  first  of  Kilry,  married  Cecillia, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringham  (D.  Bar.,  536).  John  Ogilvy,  afterwards 
Sir  John,  son  of  James,  second  son  of  the  seventh  Baron  of  Inverquharity, 
married  his  cousin  LTathilda,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie, 
contract  dated  November,  1586  (D.  Bar.,  p.  51). 

About  1640  Alexander  Wedderburn,  third  of  Kingennie,  married  a  daughter 
of  Fothringham  of  Powrie,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  who  died  in  infancy 
(D.  Bar.,  279).  Sir  Alexander  Gibson  of  Durie,  son  of  Sir  John  Gibson, 
Senator  of  the  College  of  Justice,  Lord  Clerk  Register,  &c.,  married  Cecelia, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringham,  by  whom  he  had  a  son.  Sir  John  Gibson 
of  Durie.  Sir  Alexander  was  deprived  of  his  offices  by  Oliver  Cromwell  in  1649. 
(D.Bar., 189).  Margaret  Gibson,  daughter  of  Sir  Alexanderof  Durie,  and  relict  of 
Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie,  was  married  to  Sir  Gilbert  Ramsay  of  Bamff. 
He  died  about  1653  (D.  Bar.,  189).  Sir  Alexander  Blair  of  Balthayock,  who 
succeeded  his  father  in  1565,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fothring- 
ham, by  Margaret  Gibson.  By  her  he  had  three  sons— Thomas,  his  heir; 
John,  who  carried  on  the  line  of  this  family ;  Andrew— and  two  daughters. 
He  died  1692  (D.  Bar.,  189). 

David  Fothringham  married  Marjory,  second  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Stewart  of  Grandtully,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  (Bar.,  487). 
He  was  one  of  an  assize  in  1661  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  331).  On  5th  December, 
1654,  John  Fothringham  of  Powrie,  heir  of  his  brother  Thomas,  was  retoured 


Chap.  XXVIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KETTINS.  17 

Earl  of  Bute  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  when  a  young  man  was  a  suitor  of 
Sir  George's  eldest  daughter  Agnes,  and  the  following  is  the  way  in  which  he 
acquired  possession  of  the  lady,  as  told  me  by  Miss  Smyth. 

"  The  gentleman  was  a  personal  friend  of  Sir  G-eorge,  and  the  lady  was 
willing  to  accept  him,  but  as  they  understood  that  Sir  George  would  be 
opposed  to  the  match  for  some  reason  that  is  not  stated,  Sir  James  one  day 
said  to  him,  '  Sir  George,  I  wish  to  take  your  opinion  on  a  point  of  law,  but  I 
am  not  to  ask  it  of  you  as  a  friend,  but  as  a  lawyer,  and  therefore  I  tender  you  a 
fee.'  *  Well,  what  is  it,  Sir  James?'  '  Suppose,' said  the  other,  '  a  gentle- 
man wished  to  marry  a  lady  who  was  an  heiress,  but  he  found  that  the  parents 
were  against  it.  If  he  were  to  carry  her  off,  the  marriage,  without  their 
consent,  would  not  be  legal,  and  she  might  be  disinherited.  What  could  be 
done  in  that  case  to  make  it  legal  ?'  '  Oh,'  said  Sir  George,  '  let  the  lady 
carry  off  the  gentleman.'  '  Very  good.  Sir  George,  will  you  put  that  in 
writing  ?' 

"  The  lawyer,  not  suspecting  anything,  did  so ;  when  the  other  thanked  him 
and  put  the  paper  in  his  pocket.  Shortly  after  the  parties  eloped,  contriving 
to  make  it  appear  that  the  lady  was  the  active  one  in  the  abduction.  When 
the  father  knew  he  was  very  angry,  and  threatened  to  disinherit  his  daughter  ; 
but  Sir  James  produced  his  own  written  opinion,  and  he  could  say  nothing. 

"  This  account  was  sent  by  Dean  Torry  to  Lady  Parker.'  1874. 

The  Hill  of  Keilor  rises  on  the  south  side  of  the  lands  of  Keilor.  On  its 
side  is  a  hamlet  called  "  Chapel  of  Keilor,"  but  no  remains  of  a  chapel  are 
now  to  be  seen,  although  there  may  have  been  one,  or  the  spot  from  some 
other  cause  had  been  made  sacred,  to  originate  the  name.  Sepulchral 
remains  have  been  found  on  the  Hill  of  Keilor.  A  sculptured  stone  on 
Keilor  is  by  some  supposed  to  have  marked  the  boundary  in  this  direction 
of  the  ancient  Earldom  of  Strathearn.  In  one  description  of  the  stone  it  is 
said  to  have  a  rude  outline  of  a  boar  upon  it.  Such  a  figure  may  have 
been  visible  at  one  time,  but  when  we  examined  the  stone  in  the  spring  ot 
1880  we  could  not  distinguish  any  such  animal  upon  it.  The  following 
description  of  the  stone  is  made  from  notes  taken  when  we  visited  it. 

The  sculptured  stone  on  Keilor  stands  on  an  enclosed  knoll  or  tumulus  in 

a  small  clump  of  trees,  close  by  the  north  side  of  the  high  road  along  the 

north  side  of  the  Sidlaw  range,  on  the  farm  of  Keilor.       The  stone  has  been 

broken  over  at  the  present  surface  of  the  ground,  but  it  is  clasped  by  iron 

c 


18  ANGUS  OE  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

holdfasts,  and  stands  in  a  stone  socket,  to  which  it  is  stayed  so  securely  as 
to  be  Hkely  to  stand  for  a  long  time,  unless  it  be  wantonly  destroyed.  It  is 
a  block  of  gneiss,  somewhat  rounded  in  front,  and  rough  behind,  the  edges 
being  only  about  two  inches  in  thickness.  The  stone  is  about  seven  feet  in 
height  above  the  socket,  and  thirty  inches  in  width.  The  incised  figures 
upon  it,  Avhich  face  the  south,  are  very  indistinct.  Near  the  top  there  are 
some  lines  which  may  have  been  intended  for  an  animal,  but  they  are  so 
obliterated  that  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  they  were.  There  is,  at  the  height 
of  two  feet  from  the  base,  a  circle  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  a  little  above 
which  is  another  circle  near  the  eastern  edge  of  the  stone,  about  eight  inches 
in  diameter.  This  had  probably  been  the  spectable  ornament,  but,  if  so,  the 
corresponding  circle  is  now  gone.  These  are  all  the  sculptures  now  visible 
upon  the  aucient  stone. 

The  earliest  known  proprietor  of  Kettins  is  a  baron  designed  Malcolm  of 
Ketenes,  who  is  a  witness  to  a  grant  of  the  lands  of  Balekelifan  to  the  monks 
of  Arbroath  by  Richard  of  Fruill  in  1178-80.  William,  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Angus,  and  David  of  Forfar  also  witness  the  charter,  Malcolm  being  the  last. 
(Eeg.  de  Aberb  ,  62.)  As  already  stated,  Hugh  of  Over  was  Lord  of  Ketenes 
about  1292-3.  Jervise  (E.  &  I.,  11-99)  says  Hugh  appears  to  have  been  a 
descendant  of  John  of  Eure,  and  his  heiress,  who  had  a  gift  from  Edward  I.  of 
the  manor  of  Kettins,  with  market,  &c  ,  for  services  done  to  the  King  in  these 
parts.  There  was  no  time,  after  the  death  of  Alexander  III.  in  1285,  for  Hugh 
being  a  descendant  of  John  and  Baron  of  Kettins  in  1292-3.  Hugh  and  the 
descendants  of  Malcolm  de  Ketenes  Avere  contemporaries,  as  the  latter  family 
continued  to  flourish  in  the  district  till  the  reign  of  Robert  I.  That  Sovereign, 
in  1309,  granted  a  charter  of  the  barony  of  Kettenes  to  Patrick  ofOgilvy, 
on  the  resignation  of  Malcolm  of  Caithness.      (In  to  Ch.,  1-5.) 

A  charter  of  Kettins  was  granted  to  William  Lord  Ruthven  on  26th 
January,  1527-8.  (Doug.  Peer.,  I.,  605.)  The  barony  of  Kettins  was  held  of 
the  Priory  of  Resteneth  as  superiors,  and  the  barony  paid  four  pounds 
Scots  yearly  to  the  Prior. 

The  lands  of  Kettins  had  probably  passed  with  the  heiress  to  the  Earl  of 
Moray.  On  22d  July,  1602,  James,  Earl  of  Moray,  heir  of  his  mother, 
Lady  Elizabeth  Stewart,  Countess  of  Moray,  was  retoured  (No.  29)  in  the 
lands  of  Kettins  and  in  the  lands  of  Pitdowny  or  Baldowny,  in  the  barony 
of  Kettins.      On  7th  September,   1615,   Lady  Mary  Douglas,  Countess  of 


Chap.  XXYIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KETTINS.  19 

Buchan,  heiress  of  her  grandmother,  was  retoured  (No.  86)  in  the  same  lands 
and  barony.  On  21st  April  1619,  James,  Earl  of  Moray,  heir  of  his  grand- 
father, was  retoured  (No.  116)  in  the  same  land  and  barony. 

Shortly  after  the  date  for  the  last  above  mentioned  retour  the  lands  had  been 
acquired  by  the  Lyons  of  Glamis.  On  15th  June,  1648,  Patrick,  Earl  of 
Kinghorn,  heir  of  Earl  John,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  306)  in  the  lands  ot 
Kettins,  Baldownie,  and  many  lands  in  other  parishes.  The  Halyburtons 
of  Pitcur  succeeded  the  Earl  of  Strathmore  in  these  lands.  On  26th  October, 
1672,  David  Hal yburton  of  Pitcur,  son  of  James,  was  retoured  (No.  457)  in 
Kettins,  Baldownie  and  many  other  lands.  On  25tli  October,  1681,  he  was 
again  served  heir  to  his  father  (retour  487)  in  the  same  lands.  Since  the 
Halyburtons  acquired  Kettins  and  Baldownie,  they  have  formed  part  of  the 
Pitcur  or  Halyburton  estate,  now  the  property  of  Eobert  Stewart  Menzies  of 
Halyburton,  and  Baldownie,  we  think,  is  now  called  Baldinny. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  Abden  lands  of  Kettins.  The  following 
service  of  an  heir  throws  some  light  on  the  subject.  On  16th  February,  1658, 
Alexander  Campbell  of  Balgersho,  heir  of  Alexander  Campbell  of  Balgersho, 
his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  365)  in  the  lands  called  Abden  of  Kettins,  com- 
prehending the  lands  in  the  west  end  of  the  village  of  Kettins  ;  the  lands  of 
Over  Corston  ;  the  lands  of  Greenbarns  ;  the  Mill  of  Kettins  ;  the  Chapel  of 
Kettins,  in  the  regality  of  St  Andrews. 

On22d  October,  1691,  George  M'Kenzie  of  Eosehaugh,  heir  of  line,  heir 
male  of  tailzie  and  provision  of  Lord  George  M'Kenzie  of  Eosehaugh,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  519)  in  numerous  lands,  including  those  of  East- 
townend  of  Kettins  and  Pitdownie,  in  the  parish  of  Kettins.  Shortly 
thereafter,  James  Eollok,  heir  of  George  Eollox  of  Duncrub,  his  brother,  was 
retoured  (No.  565)  in  the  bina  part  of  the  lands  of  Chapelton  of  Balgowie, 
alias  Over  Corston  ;  the  Mill  of  Cambiston,  in  the  barony  of  Downie. 

On  6th  October,  1663,  John  Eamsay  of  Kirkland  of  Kettins,  heir  of  his 
father,  John  Eamsay  of  same,  was  retoured  (No.  403)  in  the  Kirklands  of 
Kettins,  with  the  teinds,  E.,  £8  3s  4d  feudifirmaB. 

In  Eobertson's  Index,  152-21,  it  is  said  that  Eobert  III.  gave  confirmation 
of  a  grant  from  himself  to  Sir  James  Lindsay,  Knight,  of  the  Kirk  of  Ketnis. 
It  is  added,  "  This  charter  is  not  complete." 

The  estate  now  called  Lintrose,  formerly  Foderance,  was  originally  part  of 
the  Pitcur  barony.     George  Halyburton,  one  of  the  lairds  of  Pitcur,  who  was 


20  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

a  Lord  of  Session,  took  his  judicial  title  from  this  property.  He  was  knighted 
by  Charles  I.,  and  died  about  1649.  Alexander  Halyburton,  a  member  of 
this  branch  of  the  family,  died  in  1680.  On  1st  June,  1680,  James  Haly- 
burton of  Fodderance,  heir  of  Alexander  Halyburton  of  Fodderance,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  480)  in  the  lands  of  Fodderance,  with  the  fulling- 
mill  and  pasture  in  Kinnochtriemure,  in  the  Lordship  of  Scone,  E.,  £11 12s  4d 
feudifirmce.  It  is  probable  that  he  retained  the  property  until  it  was  bought 
by  the  Murrays  about  1730,  and  since  then  that  family  have  retained  the 
estate. 

The  following  are  particulars  regarding  a  member  of  the  family  of  Haly- 
burton of  Foderance. 

John  Halyburton  of  Foderance  married  a  daughter  of  the  Eev.  David  Paton 
of  Kettins.  Their  granddaughter  was  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr  George  Camp- 
bell of  Cupar-Fife,  and  the  mother  of  "  plain  John  Campbell,"  who  became 
Lord  Chancellor  of  England.  His  wife  was  created  Baroness  Stratheden  in 
1836,  and  he  was  created  Baron  Campbell  in  1841,  both  in  the  peerage  of 
Great  Britain.  Their  son  William  Frederick  Campbell,  second  Baron,  is  now 
Lord  Campbell  and  Stratheden. 

This  branch  of  the  Murrays  are  descended  from  Patrick,  third  son  of  Sir 
David  Murray  of  Tullibardine,  which  he  got,  26th  January,  1445-6.  (Doug., 
I.,  144.)  Mungo  Murray,  sixth  son  of  Sir  William,  eighth  baron  of  Ochter- 
tyre,  born  1662,  married  Janet  Arnot,  a  daughter  of  the  laird  of  Mugdrum, 
by  whom  he  had  a  son,  William,  born  1688,  and  a  daughter,  Jean.  He 
married,  secondly,  Martha  Forrester,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  John,  born 
3d  August,  1706,  and  Alexander,  born  1708.  Mungo  died  in  1719,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  William.  He  acquired  the  lands  of  Pitkethly 
and  others,  and  in  1731  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Lindsay  of 
Evelick,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,  Margaret.  In  1762  she  was  married  to 
William  Mercer  of  Aldie,  and  had  issue. 

John  Murray,  the  eldest  son  of  Mungo  by  his  second  marriage,  acquired  the 
lands  of  Lintrose  about  1730.  He  married  his  cousin  Amelia  on  28th  October, 
1731.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Sir  William  Murray,  third  baronet  of  Ochter- 
tyre,  by  Catherine  Frazer,  his  wife,  daughter  of  Hugh,  second  Lord  Lovat.  By 
his  wife,  who  died  1st  November,  1755,  he  had  two  sons,  Mungo,  and  William 
born  30th  November,  1737,  and  died  at  Philadelphia  in  1778,  Lieut. -Colonel 
of  the  27th  Regiment. 

Mungo  Murray,  second  of  Lintrose,  succeeded  bis  father.    He  was  born  7th 


Chap.  XXVIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KETTINS.  21 

September,  1735,  and  married  at  Dundee,  2lst  September,  1762,  Cecilia, 
danghter  of  John  Lyon  of  Brigton,  in  the  parish  of  Kinnettles,  and  by  her, 
who  died  in  1815,  had  a  daughter,  Euphemia- Amelia,  who  died  young,  and 
three  sons,  John,  his  heir;  William,  born  7th  August,  1765;  and  Alex- 
ander, born  12th  December,  1767.  William  married  Mrs  Nisbet,  relict  of 
Nisbet  of  Cairnhill,  near  Glasgow,  and  died  at  Edinburgh,  26th  December, 
1809,  having  had  by  his  wife,  who  died  in  1808,  three  sons,  William,  born  5th 
February,  1800  ;  Mungo,  born  16th  April,  1801,  died  in  Jamaica,  and  Robert 
Graham,  died  in  infancy  ;  also  three  daughters,  Cecilia,  Mary,  and  Euphemia. 
Mungo  died  at  Edinburgh  10th  June,  1805,  and  was  succeeded  by  hiseldest  son. 

John  Murray,  third  ofLintrose,  born  11th  July,  1763.  On  11th  February, 
1802,  he  married  at  Dundee,  Anne,  second  daughter  of  John  Gray  of  Baled- 
garno,  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie,  and  had  issue,  Mongo,  his  heir  ; 
John  Gray,  twin  son  with  Mungo  ;  William,  born  2d  November,  1805,  and 
died  young  ;  David  Smythe,  born  30tli  April,  1807,  married  Elizabeth  Davis, 
and  has  issue,  sons  and  daughters  ;  Mackenzie,  born  8th  February,  1810.  He 
died,  31st  October,  1831,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

Mungo  Murray,  fourth  of  Lintrose,  born  4th  December,  1802.  On  27th 
October,  1831,  he  married  Anne,  daughter  of  T.  W.  Willing  of  Philadelphia, 
U.S.  He  is  a  J.P.  and  D.L.  for  the  County  of  Forfar.  Heir  presumptive,  his 
nephew,  John  Gray,  son  of  the  late  David  Smythe  Murray,  by  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of Davis,  born,  1837. 

Nearly  the  half  of  the  estate  of  Lintrose  is  in  Perthshire,  the  other  portion, 
with  the  mansionhouse,  being  in  Angus.  The  House  of  Lintrose  is  com- 
paratively modern,  a  tasteful  building,  in  a  pleasant  situation,  with  fine  lawns, 
shrubbery,  and  many  stately  trees  around  it. 

ARMS  OF  MURRAY  OF  LINTROSE. 
Arms. — Az.,  three  stars,  arg.,  in  the  centre,  a  cross,  of  the  second,  surmounted  of  a  saltier, 

gu.,  both  couped. 
Crest. — An  olive  branch,  ppr. 
Motto.— In  hello  quics. 

In  1778,  James  Taylor,  yeoman  of  Ealing,  in  Middlesex,  bequeathed  the 
interest  of  £100  Bank  of  England  stock,  which  he  left  in  charge  of  George 
Dempster  of  Dunnichen,  for  the  purpose  of  educating  the  poor  children,  both 
male  and  female,  of  the  parish  of  Kettins.  Mr  Dempster,  in  addition  to  him  - 
self  and  his  heirs,  appointed  the  laird  of  Pitcur  and  the  factor  of  Belmont  to 
act  along  with  him  as  trustees. 


22  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

William  Shaw,  who,  about  1820,  bought  the  small  estate  of  Newhall,  in  the 

immediate  vicinity  of  the  Church  of  Kettins,  was  the  son  of Shaw,  some 

time  accountant  to  the  Carron  Iron  Company,  afterwards  a  writer  in  Edin- 
burgh. William  Shaw  was  a  Captain  in  the  Berwickshire  IMilitia.  This 
appointment  he  resigned,  in  order  to  join  an  uncle,  a  planter  in  Jamaica,  but 
his  uncle  died  before  his  arrival,  leaving  his  fortune,  which  was  large,  to 
several  relatives,  including  Captain  Shaw  and  his  wife,  Ann  Watt,  who  were 
cousins  german. 

Captain  Shaw,  who  probabl^^  was  of  tlie  Shaws  of  Crathienaird,  had  four 
daughters,  of  whom  Mary  Ann  died  on  17th  i\lay,  1841,  aged  20  years  ;  and 
Susanna  Miller,  wife  of  John  Adamson  of  Careston,  died  27th  November, 
1851,  aged  33  years.  Mrs  Alexander  Geekie  of  Baldowrie,  and  Mrs  Bishop, 
whose  husband  was  an  officer  in  tlie  Royal  Bank,  Edinburgh,  are  the  other 
two.  Captain  Shaw  died  17th  September,  1860,  aged  79  years,  and  his  wife 
28th  February,  1862,  aged  81  years. 

The  property  of  Newhall  was  acquired  by  the  proprietor  of  Pitcur,  and  it 
now  forms  part  of  that  extensive  estate. 

A  family  named  Yeulo  resided  in  the  parish  for  300  years.  They  long 
occupied  the  mill  of  Peattie,  and  various  lauds  in  the  parish.  Some  of  the 
actions  of  the  members  of  that  family  fill  considerable  portions  of  the  records 
of  the  Kirk  Session  of  the  parish  with  births,  baptisms,  marriages,  deaths,  and 
cases  of  discipline. 

The  lands  and  Mill  of  Pittie  or  Peattie  belonged  to  the  Ogilvys,  proprietors  of 
Balfour  in  Kingoldrum  about  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century.  On  31st 
March,  1584,  James  Ogilvy,heir  of  Master  James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour,  was  retoured 
(No.  562)  in  half  of  the  lands  of  Peattie  and  Mill,  A.E.,  50s  ;  N.E.,  £10. 

The  lands  seem  to  have  been  subdivided  into  distinct  parts.  On  21st 
August,  1655,  Margaret  Halyburton,  heir  of  James  Halyburton,  portioner  of 
Peattie,  lier  grandsir,  was  retoured  (No.  350)  iu  the  fourth  of  the  lands 
and  town  of  Peattie,  O.E.,  25s;  N.E.,  £5.  On  11th  July,  1665,  Patrick 
Anderson  of  Burnemouth,  heir  male  of  John  Anderson,  portioner  of  Peattie, 
his  grandfather,  was  retoured  (No.  417)  in  a  fourth  part  of  the  Mill  of  Peattie, 
A.E.,  25s;  N.E.,  £5  ;  lands  of  Hillend  or  Templebank  ;  acre  land  in  lands 
of  Hatton  of  Newtyle  ;  crofts,  with  horto,  in  the  town  of  Hatton,  E.  44s, 
feudifirmfB.  On  10th  April,  1666,  Patrick  Anderson  was  retoured  (No.  420) 
in  the  same  lands,  &c.,  as  No.  417. 


Chap.  XXVi'II.]     ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KETTINS.  23 

The  Ogilvys  had  probably  retained  their  half  of  the  property  until  the 
latter  half  of  last  century.  The  lands  and  mill  of  Peattie  have  long  been 
included  in  the  Pitcur  estate. 

In  the  fourteenth  century  the  lands  of  Pitcur  belonged  to  a  family  named 
Chisholm.  They  appear  to  have  been  a  branch  of  •'  The  Chisholm."  By  an 
indenture  between  William  Fenton  of  Baikie  and  Margaret  de  la  Ard  of 
Ercles  and  Thomas  Chisholm,  her  son,  anent  the  division  ofproperty  in  which 
they  were  heirs  portioners,  the  barony  of  Gask  in  Kettins  was  one  of  the  pro- 
perties, and  Margaret's  son  succeeded  his  mother  in  that  barony.  The 
indenture  is  dated  2.5th  April,  1403,  and  confirmed  by  a  charter  of  Eobert, 
Duke  of  Albany,  the  Eegent.     (In.  to  Ch.,  167-21.) 

The  last  male  proprietor,  Alexander  de  Chisholm,  left  a  daughter,  Katherine 
Chisholm,  sole  heiress  of  the  lands  and  barony.  About  1432  she  was  married 
to  Walter  Haliburton,  second  son  of  Sir  William  Halibm-ton,  Knight,  first 
Lord  Haliburton  of  Dirlton,  in  Haddingtonshire,  and  they  were  the  founders 
of  the  old  and  honourable  family  of  Halyburton  of  Pitcur.  Upon  the  resigna- 
tion of  Katherine,  his  wife,  he  had  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  by  King 
James  I.,  dated  16th  February,  in  the  27th  year  of  his  reign  (1433),  of  the 
lands  of  Gask,  Kinrossy,  two  parts  of  Pitcur,  and  Ballingaffe.  (His.  of  the 
Name  of  Hal.,  p.  12.) 

Walter  Haliburton  of  that  Ilk  and  Balligirnach  granted  charter  to  Andrew 
de  Moncur  of  that  Ilk  of  the  lands  of  Threplande,  &c.,  dated  at  Balligirnach 
on  the  feast  of  St  John  the  Baptist,  1422.  It  is  witnessed  by  Andrew  Gray  of 
Fowlis,  David  de  Ogilbi,  and  others.  (His.  Man.  Com.,  5  K.,  p.  620  ;  Wed. 
Geneal.,  105.)  This  Walter  Haliburton  had  probably  been  the  father  of 
Walter  who  married  the  heiress  of  Pitcur. 

The  family  of  Halyburton  continued  to  possess  the  barony  in  the  male  line 
until  the  death  of  Colonel  James  Halyburton,  who  died  at  Dundee  on  9th 
May,  1765.  The  most  notable  members  of  the  family  were  James  Halyburton, 
Provost  of  Dundee,  who  was  slain  in  the  vicinity  of  Edinburgh  in  1559,  and 
his  son,  also  James  Halyburton,  who  was  Provost  of  Dundee  for  the  long 
period  of  33  years,  and  died  in  1588.  The  body  of  the  father  was  buried  in  St 
Giles'  Church,  Edinburgh.  In  1813,  a  monumental  slab  was  discovered  in  the 
church,  with  the  name  "  James  Halyburton"  on  it.  This,  no  doubt,  had 
covered  the  grave  of  the  patriotic  Eeformer.  The  son  was  buried  in  the  Soutli 
Church,  Dundee,  but  the  spot  was  forgotten,  and  only  discovered  in  making 


24 


ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 


repairs  on  the  churcli  in  1827.  The  monument  was  destroyed  when  the  three 
churches  were  burned  on  3d  January,  1841.  The  father  and  son  lived  during 
an  eventful  period.  Both  favoured  the  Reformation,  were  frequently  employed 
in  affairs  of  State,  and  died  full  of  honours  and  greatly  lamented.  We  have 
not  space  here  to  give  a  detail  of  their  patriotic  deeds,  the  fruits  of  which  we 
continue  to  enjoy. 

On  13th  June,  1606,  John  Cuming  of  Cowtie  and  his  nephew,  John,  son 
and  heir  of  Archibald  Cuming,  conveyed  the  lands  of  Cupermaculty,  in 
Perthshire,  to  James  Halyburton  of  Pitcur  and  Margaret  Scrymgeour,  his 
spouse.  The  charter  is  dated  at  Cupar-Angus,  and  witnessed  by  Alexander 
Wedderburn  of  Kingany  ;  Alexander  Eamsay,  burgess  of  Dundee  ;  and  John 
Blair,  apparent  of  Balgillo.     (His.  Man.  Com.,  p.  622.) 

On  30th  October,  1608,  James  Halyburton  of  Pitcur  wrote  to  the  Laird 
of  Edzell,  mentioning  that  the  Laird  of  Dun  was  much  troubled  by  the  Bishop 
of  St  Andrews  (George  Gladstaines)  for  not  producing  the  original  sasine  of 
Logy  Montrose.  He  asks  this  writ  from  Edzell.  Then  "  we  sal  immediatlie 
be  at  ane  waif  point  with  the  Bischip." 

On  21st  April,  1619,  James  Halyburton,  heir  of  his  fatlier,  Sir  James 
Halyburton,  Knight,  was  retoured  (No.  115)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Gask 
and  Pitcur,  with  the  Mill  and  advocation  of  the  Church  of  Kettins,  A.E.,  £5  ; 
N.B.,  £40. 

About  the  year  1620,  James  Halyburton  of  Pitcur  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  the  first  Earl  of  Roxburghe  (the  date  of  the  creation  of  the  Earldom  was 
1616).  (Crawford,  432.)  Sir  James  Carnegie,  second  of  Southesk,  married 
the  Lady  Mary  Ker,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Roxburgh,  and  widow  of  James 
Halyburton,  in  1629. 

William  Halyburton  of  Pitcur  married  Lady  Mary  Carnegie,  fourth 
daughter  of  David,  Lord  Carnegie,  contract  dated  31st  October,  1622.  He 
died  before  1639,  as  she  was  that  year  married  to  Robert  Arbuthnott  of  that 
Hk.  She  died  22d  December,  1651.  William  Halyburton  of  Pitcur  was  one 
of  the  witnesses  to  the  contract  of  marriage  of  James,  Earl  of  Montrose  (first 
Marquis),  to  Lady  Magdalene  Carnegie,  on  10th  November,  1629.  (H. 
of  C.  of  S.,  131.)  William  Halyburton  of  Pitcur  is  mentioned  17th 
February,  1631.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  353.) 

The  father  of  the  penultimate  male  Halyburton,  proprietor  of  Pitcur, 
resolved  to  join  the  army  raised  on  behalf  of  James  VII.  by  Viscount  Dundee. 
He  was  so  corpulent  that  on  leaping  upon  his  horse  he  broke  its  back.     After 


Chap.  XXYIIL]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.-  KETTINS.  25 

some  trouble,  a  horse  strong  enough  to  carry  him  was  procured  by  Pattullo  of 
Kinnochtry,  and  he  fought  and  fell  in  the  battle  of  Killiecrankie  in  1689. 
One  account  says  : — "  The  brave  Laird  of  Pitcur,  who,  like  a  moving  castle 
in  the  shape  of  a  man,  threw,  as  it  were,  fire  and  sword  on  all  sides  against 
his  enemy,  was  numbered  with  the  dead  on  that  eventful  day.  Dun- 
dee and  his  friend  Pitcur  were  buried  in  Blair-Athole  Church."  (His. 
of  Highlands,  II.,  169-171.)  Tradition  says  he  fell  by  a  shot  of  his  own 
servant.    An  old  ballad  says : — 

"  The  great  Pitcur  fell  in  a  fur, 
An'  Clavers  got  a  crankie  ; 
An'  there  they  fed  the  Athole  gleds 
On  the  braes  o'  Killiecrankie.'' 

In  the  History  of  the  Haliburtons  printed  for  the  Grampian  Club,  p.  63,  it 
is  mentioned  that  Haliburton  of  Pitcur  "  died  about  1742  or  3,  leaving  one 
son,  Colonel  James  Haliburton,  and  three  daughters,  one,  Lady  Morton,  one, 
married  to  Dr  Douglas,  one,  to  Mr  Wedderburn,  Gosford.  The  two  last  had 
no  children.  Lady  Morton  left  issue,  two  sons  and  one  daughter,  Lady 
Aboyne,  whose  son  inherited  the  estate  of  Pitcur." 

Another  account  says  Colonel  James  Halyburton  of  Pitcur,  whose  father 
fell  with  Lord  Dundee  at  the  battle  of  Killiecrankie  in  1689,  died  at  Dundee 
on  9th  May,  1765.  He  left  a  daughter,  Agatha,  his  only  child  and  sole 
heiress,  who  married  James,  fourteenth  Earl  of  Morton,  by  whom  she  had 
Sholto,  15th  Earl,  and  Lady  Mary  Douglas,  afterwards  Countess  of  Aboyne. 
The  Hon.  Hamilton  Douglas,  second  son  of  Earl  Sholto,  succeeded  his  grand- 
mother in  the  barony  of  Pitcur,  and  assumed  the  name  of  Halyburton.  At 
his  death  in  1784,  the  property  devolved  upon  his  aunt,  the  Countess  of  Aboyne. 
She  was  succeeded  in  it  by  her  second  son,  the  Hon.  Douglas  Gordon,  who 
also  assumed  the  name  of  Halyburton.  On  the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Gordon 
in  1836,  the  Earl  of  Aboyne,  Mr  Halyburton's  brother,  became  Marquis  of 
Huntly,  and  he  himself,  by  special  favour  of  the  Crown,  Lord  Douglas  Gordon 
Halyburton.  His  Lordship  represented  this  county  from  the  time  of  the  first 
Keformed  Parliament  till  his  death  in  1847. 

Lord  D.  G.  Halyburton  was  succeeded  in  his  estates  and  in  his  seat  in 
Parliament  by  his  nephew,  Vice-Admiral  Lord  John  Frederick  Gordon  Haly- 
burton, son  of  the  Marquis  of  Huntly.  In  1836,  Lord  John  married  Lady 
Augusta  Fitzclarence  (daughter  of  William  IV.,  and  cousin  to  Her  Majesty 
Queen  Victoria),  widow  of  Lord  John  Kennedy  Erskine  of  Dun,  second  son  of 

D 


26  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

the  Marquis  of  Ailsa.  On  the  death  of  Lord  John,  the  estate  of  Pitcur 
devolved  upon  Charles  Gordon,  eleventh  Marquis  of  Huntly.  In  February, 
1880,  the  Marquis  sold  the  property  privately  to  Graham  Menzies,  of  the 
Caledonian  Distillery,  Edinburgh.  The  property  extends  to  about  5700  acres, 
and  the  price  was  understood  to  be  about  a  quarter  of  a  million  pounds 
sterling. 

Unfortunately  Mr  Menzies  was  not  spared  long  to  enjoy  his  beautiful  estate. 
He  was  succeeded  in  it  by  his  son,  Robert  Stewart  Menzies,  who  is  the  present 
proprietor  of  Pitcur,  Halyburton,  and  Newhall,  which  all  lie  contiguous  to 
each  other  chiefly  in  this  parish. 

The  Castle  of  Pitcur,  which  was  long  the  feudal  residence  of  the  Halybur- 
tons,  is  situate  on  the  side  of  a  small  den,  through  which  the  rivulet  from  Loch 
Lindores  runs.  In  its  course  it  flows  through  the  policies  of  Halyburton, 
divides  Coupar- Angus  into  two  unequal  parts,  and  falls  into  the  Isla.  In  part 
of  its  journey  it  divides  Forfar  and  Perthshire.  The  Castle  is  a  lofty,  square 
tower,  in  a  ruinous  state,  parts  of  the  walls  having  fallen,  and  what  remains 
is  rent  and  in  an  unsafe  condition.  When  entire  it  had  been  a  large  struc- 
ture. It  commands  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Storraont,  part  of  the  Vale  of 
Strathmore,  and  of  the  Grampian  ranges  beyond,  some  of  the  distant  lofty 
summits  of  which  are  distinctly  visible.  It  is  surrounded  by  some 
old  trees  of  large  size.  The  Castle,  the  ruins  of  which  remain,  was  built  by 
one  of  the  Halyburtons,  perhaps  early  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  it  appears 
to  have  been  a  place  of  some  strength,  and  sufficient  to  protect  its  owners  from 
the  caterans  or  other  marauders. 

Some  years  ago  a  weem  was  found  at  Lintrose.  Last  year  another  weem 
was  discovered  in  the  vicinity  of  Pitcur  Castle,  and  visited  by  the  Author  in 
September,  1881.  In  ploughing,  a  large  stone  stopped  the  horses.  It 
was  found  to  be  the  cover  of  an  entrance  to  a  weem,  and  steps  were 
taken  by  Mr  Menzies,  the  proprietor  of  the  land,  to  explore  it.  After 
much  labour,  the  earth  was  cleared  out  for  a  considerable  length,  and 
found  to  consist  of  circles  diverging  in  various  ways,  each  opening  into 
another,  and  all  connected.  The  side  walls  are  formed  of  large,  rough 
stones,  which  overlap  each  other  and  converge  towards  each  other,  and 
are  covered  by  broad  stones  resting  on  both  \Nalls.  Cup  markings  are  on 
some  of  the  wall  stones  and  on  one  flag  stone.  It  is  from  five  to  six  feet  in 
height,  and  from  four  to  nine  feet  in  width.  About  fifty  yards  is  cleared,  but 
part  is  still  unexplored.    The  weem  had  been  opened  before,  but  many  centuries 


Chap.  XXIX.]   ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES—KINGOLDRUM.  27 

ago.  Several  articles  were  found  in  the  weem,  consisting  of  querns,  broken 
pottery  ware,  flints,  bones,  teeth,  charcoal,  &c.,  also  a  beautiful  vase  of  a  reddish 
colour,  of  classical  workmanship,  with  artistic  designs  of  human  and  other 
figures,  but  it  was  broken  by  the  labourer's  pick.  A  small  coin,  supposed 
to  be  Roman,  was  also  found.  The  Romans  had  two  camps  within  three 
miles  of  the  weem,  and  the  soldiers  may  have  discovered  and  opened  the  weem. 
We  did  not  see  the  coin. 

On  the  summit  of  the  Sidlaws,  south  of  Pitcur  Castle,  there  was  a  castle 
called  Dores,  in  which  tradition  says  Macbeth  occasionally  resided.  On  this 
hill  large  quantities  of  ashes  have  from  time  to  time  been  found  in  various 
places,  as  well  as  at  the  site  of  the  Castle.  About  the  year  1768,  while  some 
quarriers  were  working  at  the  rock  on  which  the  Castle  stood,  an  excavation 
about  a  yard  square  was  discovered,  in  which  there  were  a  number  of  partially 
consumed  bones,  but  it  contained  nothing  else  to  tell  when  or  by  whom  the  pit 
had  been  formed,  or  the  bones  deposited  in  it. 

Chap.  XXIX.— KINGOLDEUM. 

The  Church  of  Kingoudrum  was  in  the  diocese  of  Brechin.  It  was  given, 
along  with  a  toft  in  the  shyra  (division)  of  the  same,  by  William  the  Lion  to 
his  favourite  monastery  of  Aberbrothock,  as  appears  by  his  charter  of  con- 
firmation, 1211-14.  The  grant  was  confirmed  by  Alexander  III.  and  by 
Robert  III.  There  is  little  doubt  it  was  an  early  Christian  settlement,  and 
that  there  had  been  a  church  on  the  site  ages  before  the  erection  of  the  one 
given  to  the  Abbey  by  King  William.  (Sc.  St.,  I.,  15.)  This  supposition  is 
strengthened  by  the  discovery  of  fragments  of  ancient  sculptured  stones,  with 
curious  devices  cut  on  them  of  a  mixture  of  heathen  and  Christian  character, 
and  by  an  old  scellacJi,  or  bell,  made  of  sheet  iron  and  coated  with  bronze, 
having  been  found  there  in  1843.  A  bronze  chalice  and  glass  bowl  were  got 
beside  the  bell.  A  curious  bronze  cross  and  chain  were  found  in  a  stone  cist 
near  the  Church.  These  and  the  bell  were  presented  to  the  Museum  of  the 
Society  of  Antiquaries  by  the  Rev.  Mr  Haldane,  the  minister  of  the  parish,  but 
the  chalice  and  bowl  have  disappeared.  In  another  cist  was  a  skeleton  doubled 
up,  with  a  rude  bronze  armlet  on  one  of  its  wrists. 

The  date  of  dedication  and  the  patron  saint  of  the  Church  are  unknown. 
Kingoldrum  is  said  to  be  derived  from  the  Gaelic,  and  to  signify  "  the  town 
between  the  Drums,"  which  is  expressive  of  the  local  situation  of  the  Church. 


28  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  L^^RT  XIV. 

The  present  Church,  erected  in  1840,  is  almost  on  the  site  of  the  former 
Church,  which  must  have  been  erected  in  ante-Reformation  times.  It  is  a 
plain  but  neat  structure,  as  are  most  of  the  parish  churches  erected  in  the  early 
decades  of  this  century,  but  it  is  comfortable  within.  The  manse  is  close  by 
the  Church,  in  a  beautiful  den,  and  sheltered  from  every  wind  that  blows. 

About  1864,  a  stone  coffin  was  found  in  a  gravel  hillock  at  Meikle  Kenny, 
in  the  parish.  A  coffin  slab,  about  six  feet  long,  embellished  with  a  cross  in 
relief  and  a  sword  incised,  lies  in  the  burying  ground.  A  fine  spring  well 
near  the  Church  is  called  Neil's  Well.  Flint  weapons  and  other  traces  of  the 
early  inhabitants  have  been  found  in  various  parts  of  the  parish,  and  there  are 
some  peculiar  looking  entrenchments  and  stone  circles  upon  the  Scurroch  Hill, 
to  the  west  of  the  manse. 

In  1253,  on  the  settlement  of  a  controversy  about  the  marches  of  Kingol- 
drum  between  the  Abbot  of  Arbroath  and  Sir  Thomas  de  Rettre,  one  of  the 
boundaries  was  a  stone  on  which  a  cross  was  cut  by  both  the  contending 
parties.     (Sc.  St.,  II.  p.  xlviij.) 

Sir  Thomas  de  Rattray  was  knighted  by  King  Alexander  III.  By 
Christian,  his  wife,  he  got  part  of  the  lands  of  Glencaveryn  and  Kingoldrum, 
in  Angus,  which  appears,  from  an  agreement,  supei'  controversia  inter 
dominum  Thomam  de  Batrey,  militem  actorem  nomine  Christene  uxoris  suce 
ex  parte  una,  et  viros  religios  abbat,  et  convent  de  A  berbrothick  ex  altera  ; 
super  limitibus  terrarum  de  Glencaveryn  et  Kyncaldrum  ;  coram  domino 
Alexandro  Cummin,  Comite  de  Buchan,  justiciario  ScoticCj  &c.  This  deed, 
to  which  the  seals  of  the  Earl  of  Buchan,  the  Bishops  'of  St  Andrews  and 
Brechin,  the  Earl  of  Mar,  Sir  Thomas  Rattray,  and  his  spouse,  are  appended, 
is  dated  anno  1253. 

Sir  John  Moray,  a  younger  son  of  Sir  William  de  Moravia,  &c.,  fixed 
his  residence  at  Abercairney  in  the  time  of  King  Robert  I.,  of  which  lands,  as 
well  as  those  of  Ogilvy,  &c.,  he  became  possessed  by  the  marriage  of  Mary, 
daughter  of  Malise,  Earl  of  Strathern.  Sir  John  gave  to  the  monks  of 
Arbroath  all  his  lands  and  titles  to  the  lands  of  Kingoldrum,  which  had 
formerly  been  in  dispute  with  the  Convent,  and  that  for  the  health  of  his 
soul,  &c. 

The  parish  of  Kingoldrum  is  very  irregular  in  figure,  and  contains  9636-438 
acres,  of  which  17*050  are  water.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by 
Kirriemuir  and  Cortachy ;  by  Airlie  on  the  south  ;  and  by  Lintrathen  on  the 
west.   Being  situated  in  the  Braes  of  Angus,  the  northern  portion  of  the  parish 


Chap.  XXIX.]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KING OLDRUM.  29 

is  mountainous,  Catlaw  (2264  feet)  being  the  highest  summit  in  it,  from  which 
the  prospect  is  most  extensive  and  varied. 

Outside  and  in  front  of  the  Grampians  the  land  everywhere  presents  an 
undulating  appearance,  having  a  gradual  slope  to  the  south,  with  deep  inden- 
tations, through  which  streams  flow,  and  high  banks  and  eminences,  with  their 
sylvan  accessories.  There  is  thus  great  diversity  of  scenery,  and  many  parts 
are  very  beautiful. 

The  soil  of  Kingoldrum,  as  might  be  expected  from  the  various  altitudes 
and  uneven  surface  of  the  grounds,  varies  greatly.  The  southern  slopes  are 
generally  a  rich  black  mould,  and  on  them  seedtime  and  harvest  are  earlier, 
the  climate  milder,  and  the  air  more  temperate  than  on  the  higher  districts  of 
the  parish.  The  glens  in  the  northern  division  of  the  parish  partake  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  Highlands.  The  banks  of  the  streams  are  fresh  and 
verdant,  and  the  pasturage  excellent,  while  up  the  sides  of  the  mountains  there 
is  a  good  deal  of  heath  and  rank  upland  vegetation,  well  suited  for  sheep 
walks.  Catlaw  mutton  was  remarkable  for  its  superior  delicacy  and  flavour  in 
former  times.  There  was  a  distiller  in  the  parish  when  the  Old  Account  was 
written,  who  bought  a  good  part  of  the  barley  available  for  sale  ;  other  parts  of 
the  produce  were  sent  to  Dundee  and  to  Kirriemuir  for  sale. 

The  Melgum,  after  passing  the  Loch  of  Lintratlien,  presents  pictures  of  rare 
beauty.  The  descent  of  the  stream  is  very  rapid,  and  it  suddenly  enters  a  deep, 
narrow,  and  tortuous,  rocky  channel,  in  passing  through  which  it  is  precipi- 
tated again  and  again  from  a  considerable  height.  Cascade  thus  succeeds 
cascade  in  rapid  succession,  each  having  beauties  all  its  own.  Much  natural 
wood,  shrubbery,  and  green  herbage  deck  the  banks  of  the  ravine  through 
which  the  water  rushes  in  its  restless  course,  as  if  anxious  to  be  united  to  the 
Isla.  Whether  the  Loups  are  visited  from  below  or  from  above,  though  the 
distance  is  not  great,  the  walk  is  toilsome,  and  to  those  who  will  see  the  falls 
from  every  point  it  is  not  without  danger. 

About  the  year  1460,  Abbot  Malcolm  Brydy,  22d  Abbot,  effected  perambu- 
lations of  the  marches  of  many  of  the  Abbey  lands,  including  those  of 
Dunnichen,  Guynd,  Kingoldrum,  and  Ochterlony  (Kelly).  The  Abbots  and 
monks  made  perambulations  of  this  parish  at  three  different  periods,  and  the 
names  of  most  of  the  various  farms  and  hamlets  at  the  earliest  of  the  three 
perambulations,  made  more  than  six  hundred  years  ago,  are  continued  to  the 
present  time. 

The  Abbots  and  monks  had  the  sole  right  to  hunt  in  the  forest  of  Kingol- 


30  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

drum.  There  is  a  proclamation  of  Alexander  III.  prohibiting  any  one  from 
cutting  wood  or  hunting  in  the  forest  of  Kingoldrum  without  the  consent  of 
the  Abbots.  No  trace  of  the  ancient  Royal  forest  can  now  be  discovered,  and 
its  boundaries  are  entirely  unknown. 

There  were  on  the  hill  of  Schurroch,  at  three  places  equidistant  from  each 
other,  several  Druidical  circles  formed  of  large  stones,  but  one  of  them  was 
removed  in  the  first  half  of  the  century.  Catlaw  is  surmounted  by  a  very  large 
cairn  of  stones.  In  early  times  these  had  formed  a  fortress  for  the  defence  of 
the  natives  against  marauders.  Some  of  the  stones  have  been  subjected  to  the 
action  of  fire. 

The  lands  of  Kenny  belonged  to  Walter,  son  of  Turpin,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  thirteenth  century.  He  exchanged  these  lands  with  John  of  Ochterlony 
for  his  lands  of  Ochterlony  in  Dunnichen.  The  motives  which  induced  these 
parties  to  make  the  exchange  cannot  now  be  known.  A  copy  of  the  charter 
by  Ralph  or  Eadulfus,  Abbot  of  Aberbrothock,  of  the  lands  of  Kenny  from 
Walter,  the  son  of  Turpin,  to  John  de  Ochterlony,  is  on  pp.  262-3  of  the  Reg. 
Vet.  Aberb.  The  date  of  the  charter  is  1226-1239,  Thomas  de  Malherbe, 
Sheriff  of  Angus  ;  Lord  Angus,  son  of  Earl  Adam ;  Keraldo,  Justice  of  the 
King ;  and  Ysaac  de  Forfar,  being  among  the  witnesses. 

A  copy  of  a  confirmation  charter  of  this  charter  by  William,  Abbot  of 
Aberbrothock,  is  on  pages  334-5  of  the  Reg.  Vet.  Aberb.  It  is  dated  in  1351. 
In  these  two  charters  mention  is  made  of  a  perambulation  of  the  marches  of 
Kenny  in  the  time  of  Abbot  Gilbert,  and  during  the  time  that  Hugh  Cambrun 
was  Sheriff  of  Angus,  1214-1225,  and  in  presence  of  the  usual  number  of 
neighbouring  proprietors.  In  it  we  have,  "  Rachethunithouer  quod  Anglice 
dicitur  Midefeld,"  and  "  Marresiam  quamdam  quaa  Scotice  dicitur  Moijne- 
buche"     (Gel.  Scot.,  IL,  p.  460.) 

The  family  of  Ochterlony  was  long  afterwards  designed  of  Kenny.  Walter 
of  Ochterlony  did  homage  to  Edward  I.,  but  he  is  designed  of  Fife,  perhaps 
by  mistake.  No  Angus  man  of  the  name  did  fealty  to  that  monarch,  nor  does 
any  one  of  the  name  come  to  the  front  in  the  Wars  of  the  Succession.  About 
the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century  they  again  appear  as  barons  of  Angus,  and 
in  recording  the  names  at  the  perambulation  of  marches,  a  frequent  occurrence 
in  those  times,  they  generally  follow  immediately  after  the  titled  barons,  which 
shows  their  antiquity,  and  the  important  position  they  had  acquired. 

William  Ochterlony  of  Ochterlony  was  witness  to  one  of  the  Kinnaird 


Chap.  XXIX.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINGOLDRUM.  31 

charters  about  1368.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  488.)  They  are  again  mentioned  in 
1391.  Alexander  of  Ochterlony  married  Janet,  the  only  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Maule  of  Panmure,  in  1394.  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  181 ;  In.  to  Ch.,  137-8.) 
John  of  Ochterlony  is  mentioned  1356.  (Do.  233.)  William  de  Ochter- 
lowny  is  one  of  the  witnesses  to  a  charter  of  confirmation  hy  Robert  III.  at 
Dundee,  9th  March,  1390.  (In.  to  Ch.,  150-2.)  Alexander  Uchterlowny 
witnesses  some  of  the  charters  of  Regent  Albany  in  the  early  part  of  the 
fifteenth  century.  (In.  to  Ch.  xiv.)  It  is  uncertain  whether  or  not  these 
persons  were  of  the  old  race  who  exchanged  their  lands  for  those  of  Kenny, 
or  whether  they  were  the  descendants  of  Walter,  the  son  of  Turpin,  who 
acquired  the  lands  of  Ochterlony,  and  who  may  have  assumed  a  surname  from 
the  new  lands  he  had  acquired. 

On  4th  April,  1409,  an  Inquisition  was  held  at  Cairnconnon  regarding  the 
lands  of  Kenny  Meikle.  It  is  supposed  that  Walter  Panter  was  the  Abbot 
when  this  inquest  was  held,  but  the  time  of  the  death  of  John  Gedy,  his  pre- 
decessor, or  of  Walter's  elevation  is  not  precisely  known.  (Monasticon,  522.) 
Alexander  Wishart  was  one  of  the  inquest.  In  a  charter  by  Abbot  Malcolm 
of  the  lands  of  Kenny  Meikle  in  1466  to  Alexander  of  Ochterlony,  John 
Wishart,  son  of  John  of  Logic,  is  named.  The  lands  of  Kenny  had  come  into 
possession  of  the  Ogilvys  before  13th  April,  1532.  John  Ogilvy  of  Kenny  was 
a  juror  of  that  date.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  528.) 

In  1279,  Adam,  third  son  of  John  Wishart,  Sheriff  of  the  Mearns,  received 
from  William,  Abbot  of  Arbroath,  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Kenny- 
Murchardyn  or  Kenny-Neil,  in  Kingoldrum,  which  had  previously  belonged 
to  Duncan,  "  Judex"  or  Deemster  of  our  Lord  the  King.  These  lands  re- 
mained for  a  long  period  in  the  Wisharts.  (Life  of  Geo.  Wishart,  77-101.) 
In  1526,  John  Wishart  of  Logie  succeeded  his  father,  Alexander,  in  the  lands 
of  Kennyneil.  On  30th  October,  1629,  John  Wishart  of  that  Ilk  was  served 
heir  to  his  father,  Sir  John  Wishart,  in  the  lands  of  Kenny-Neil  (retour 
No.  189). 

It  appears  that  the  lands  of  Little  Kenny  had  remained  in  possession  of  the 
Abbey  of  Arbroath  until  the  abolition  of  monastic  institutions,  after  which 
they  became  the  property  of  the  Commendator.  On  10th  February,  1562, 
James,  sixth  Lord  Ogilvy,  obtained  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Little  Kenny 
from  John,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath.  The  charter  was  con- 
firmed on  13th  July,  1566.  Since  then  the  noble  family  of  Ogilvy  have  con- 
tinued in  possession  of  Little  Kenny.    They  had  previously  acquired  the  lands 


32  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

of  Kenny,  as  mentioned  above,  and  they  also  came  into  possession  of  those  of 
Meikle  Kenny  and  of  Keunyneil,  all  of  which  still  belong  to  the  Earl  of  Airlie. 

Neil's  Well  and  Kinnyneil  must  have  kindred  associations,  but  I  have  not 
obtained  any  information  regarding  the  person  who  gave  his  name  to  them.  He 
was  probably  an  early  Irish  saint,  to  whom  the  church  was  dedicated. 

It  has  been  mentioned  above  that  the  Church  and  lands  of  the  parish  of 
Kingoldrum  were  gifted  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  the  one  by  King  William 
the  Lion,  and  the  other  by  Sir  John  Moray,  the  first  of  Abercairney.  The 
greater  part  of  the  lands  continued  in  possession  of  the  Convent  till  close  upon 
the  time  of  the  Eeformation ;  but  the  Abbot  appears  to  have  given  off  portions 
of  the  lands  known  by  the  names  of  Kenny,  Meikle  Kenny,  and  Kenny- 
Murchardyn  or  Kennyneil  at  an  early  period,  seeing  that  Walter,  the  son  of 
Turpin,  having,  as  related  above,  possessed  the  lands  of  Kenny  in  1226  and 
for  some  time  previously  ;  but  the  date  when  they  obtained  them  we  have  not 
learned.  Abbot  Gilbert,  who  was  fourth  Abbot  of  the  Monastery,  perambu- 
lated the  marches  of  certain  lands  of  Kenny  in  Kingoldrum  in  1219.  It  may 
have  been  in  connection  with  the  alienation  of  part  of  the  lands  of  Kenny  that 
this  perambulation  was  made.  In  1279,  as  already  stated,  William  I.,  who 
was  twelfth  Abbot,  disposed  of  the  lands  of  Kenny-Murchardyn  or  Kenny- 
Keil  to  Adam  Wishart,  son  of  the  Sheriff  of  the  Mearns,  but  they  had  been 
previously  disposed  of  to  the  "  Judex"  of  the  King.  This  Abbot  also  disposed 
of  the  lands  of  Letham  to  Hugo  Heem  on  26th  March,  1284. 

It  was  not  until  the  20th  February,  1539,  that  the  other,  and  by  far  the 
larger,  portions  of  the  parish  were  disposed  of.  Of  that  date  a  charter  was 
given  by  Cardinal  David  Beaton,  Abbot  of  Arbroath,  the  Prior,  and  other 
officers,  and  the  monks  of  the  Monastery,  to  James  Ogilvy  of  Cookstone  and 
Marjory  Durie,  his  spouse,  and  their  heirs,  &c.,  of  the  whole  lands  of  Balfour, 
Kii-kton,  Ascreavies  (Over  and  Nether),  the  Mill  of  Kingoldrum,  with  the 
astricted  multures,  lie  multure  sheaf,  ring  bear,  of  all  the  barony  of  Kingol- 
drum, viz.,  the  lands  and  towns  above-mentioned,  together  with  those  of 
Easter  Pearsie,  Mid  Pearsie  or  Balgray,  Wester  Pearsie,  Baldovie,  Kinclune, 
Meikle  and  Little  Kenny,  Ancharroch,  with  their  tofts,  crofts,  outsets, 
pertinents,  and  cottages,  lying  within  the  barony  of  Kingoldrum  and  regality 
of  Arbroath,  to  be  held  in  feufarm  of  the  Cardinal  and  his  successors  in  the 
Abbacy  of  Arbroath,  for  an  annual  payment  of  £42  6s  in  money  (Scots),  with 
certain  cane  payments,  or  an  augmentation  of  the  rental  to  the  extent  of  £44, 


Chap.  XXIX.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- KIXGOLDPtUM.  33 

payable  at  Whitsunday  and  Martinmas,  together  with  three  suits  yearly  to  three 
chief  Courts  of  the  regality  of  Arbroath.  Ogilvy's  heirs  were  bound  to  double 
the  feu-duty  the  first  year  of  entry,  but  neither  he  nor  they  had  power  to  dispose 
of  any  portion  of  the  property  without  the  special  consent  of  the  Cardinal  and  his 
successors  had  thereto.  It  is  signed  by  the  Cardinal  and  twenty-four  monks  of 
the  Abbey.  The  charter  and  other  deeds  and  an  inventory  of  the  titles  down 
to  1612  are  at  Panmure. 

The  charter  of  Balfour,  &c.,  to  James  Ogilvy  and  his  spouse  was  confirmed 
by  the  King,  and  also  by  the  Pope.  James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour  was  a  member 
of  the  jury  at  an  Assize  on  31st  August,  1558.  He  died  before  18th  November, 
1588.  Of  that  date  John  Hamilton,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath, 
granted  a  precept  for  infefting  "  James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour  as  heir  of  umquhile 
Mr  James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour,  of  all  and  sundry  the  said  lands,"  &c. 

I  have  given  as  a  frontispiece  to  Vol.  III.  a  facsimile  of  a  lease  which  I 
possess  of  the  teind  sheaves  of  the  lands  of  Balfour,  Kirkton,  the  lands  of 
Ascreavie  (Over  and  Nether),  the  Mill  of  Kingoldrum  and  mill  lands  thereof, 
with  all  their  outsets,  cotlands,  pendicles,  and  pertinents,  lying  in  the  barony 
of  Kingoldrum.  The  lease  is  for  nineteen  years,  the  rent,  twelve  pounds  usual 
money  of  Scotland,  payable  at  two  terms  in  the  year,  Whitsunday  and  ]\Iartin- 
mas.  The  designation  of  the  Cardinal  in  the  charter  is: — "We,  David,  by 
the  mercy  of  God,  Cardinal  and  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  Primate  &  Legate 
of  Scotland,  Administrator  of  the  Bishoprick  of  Mirapor,  and  perpetual  Com- 
mendator of  the  Abbey  of  Aberbrothock,  with  the  Convent  of  the  same,  of  the 
Order  of  St  Biddit."  The  charter  is  signed  at  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  20th 
February,  1539-40.  The  round  seal  of  the  Cardinal  and  the  Common  Seal  of 
the  Chapter  of  the  Abbey  are  said  to  be  attached,  but  they  are  not  now  at  the 
document.  It  is  signed  by  David,  CardVf-  St  Andrews,  Commendator  de 
Abbrothok,  and  twenty-four  monks  of  the  Convent.  It  is  beautifully  written 
in  the  vernacular  of  the  period.  The  lease  is  to  James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour  and 
Marjory  Durie,  his  spouse,  the  longer  liver  of  them,  his  heirs,  assignes,  and 
sub-tenants.     It  is  a  short,  concise,  but  valid  document. 

On  5th  May,  1625,  James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  was  served  heir  to  his 
father.  Marquis  James  (retour  154),  in  many  of  the  lands  which  belonged  to 
the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  including  those  of  Kirkton  of  Kingoldrum,  Auch- 
arroch,  Kinclune,  Baldovie,  Meikle  Kenny,  Balfour,  Ascreavie  (Over  and 
Nether),  Mill  of  Kingoldrum,  also  the  lands  of  "Kynnennall,"  with  the  teinds 
in  the  barony  and  parish  of  Kingoldrum. 


34  ANGUS  OH  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

On  1st  April,  1662,  George,  Earl  of  Panmure,  heir  of  his  father,  Earl 
Patrick,  was  retoured  (No.  384)  in  the  whole  of  the  lands  of  Kingoldrura,  as 
enumerated  above,  with  the  Mill,  sucken  and  thirl,  multures,  teinds,  &c.  On 
16th  May,  1671,  George,  Earl  of  Panmure,  heir  of  Earl  George,  his  father, 
was  retoured  (No.  450)  in  the  above  lands,  and,  in  addition,  Easter,  "Wester, 
and  Middle  Pearsies.  On  27th  April,  1686,  James,  Earl  of  Panmure,  was 
served  heir  to  his  brother.  Earl  George  (retour  502)  in  the  whole  of  the  lands 
of  Kiugoldrum,  teinds,  &c. 

These  retours  in  favour  of  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton  and  Earls  of  Panmure 
were  of  the  superiorities  only,  and  not  of  the  properties  themselves. 

On  28th  February,  1643,  John  Ogilvy  of  Balfour,  heir  of  John  Ogilvy  of 
Balfour,  his  father,  was  retourod  (No.  278)  in  the  lands  of  Balfour,  Kirkton, 
and  lands  of  Ascreavie  (Over  and  Nether),  with  the  Mill  of  Kingoldrum  and 
multures,  the  multure  sheaf  and  ring  bear  of  all  the  barony  of  Kingoldrum, 
E.  £44,  feudifirmte. 

The  descendants  of  James  Ogilvy  and  Marjory  Durie  long  continued  to 
possess  the  estate  of  Balfour.  Peter  Ogilvy,  younger  of  Balfour,  is  mentioned 
about  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  Peter  Ogilvy  of  Balfour  is 
mentioned  about  the  middle  of  that  century.  Ochterlony  says,  1684-5  : — The 
laird  of  Balfour,  Ogilvy,  hath  the  greatest  interest  in  Kingoldrum — an  ancient 
gentleman,  with  a  great  estate.  It  hath  a  great  house,  built  by  Cardinal 
Beaton,  and  much  planting.  Notwithstanding  the  great  things  enumerated 
by  Ochterlony,  Ogilvy  of  Balfour  is  not  among  the  barons  of  Angus  enumerated 
by  Edwards  in  1678,  the  laird  of  Balfour  never  having  got  his  estate  erected 
into  a  barony,  as  he  held  off  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  and  not  off  the  Crown. 
In  a  memorandum,  dated  9th  November,  1698,  it  is  said  that  the  grandfather 
of  the  present  laird  of  Balfour  is  yet  living.     Pie  may  have  resigned  it. 

The  Ogilvys  were  in  possession  of  Balfour  for  more  than  sixty  years  before 
tiiey  received  the  charter  from  Cardinal  Beaton,  which  had  therefore  probably 
been  only  a  confirmation  charter  of  the  lands  of  a  previous  one,  although  there 
is  no  reference  in  the  1539  charter  to  any  earlier  one. 

Walter  Ogilvie,  the  father  of  James,  the  first  of  Balfour  by  the  1539  charter, 
was  brother  of  Marion  Ogilvy,  the  mother  of  the  Cardinal's  children,  who  thus 
had  a  deep  interest  in  the  Ogilvies.  Ochterlony's  statement  that  the  Castle  of 
Balfour  was  built  by  Cardinal  Beaton  is  a  popular  error,  as  is  the  common  re- 
port that  the  Castle  of  Claypots  and  others  were  built  by  Beaton.  It  is  more 
probable  that  Balfour  Castle  was  built  half  a  century  earlier  by  Walter  Ogilvy, 


Chap.  XXIX.]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINGOLDRUM.  35 

the  father  of  James  of  Balfour,  than  by  the  Cardinal.  It  was  custo- 
mary for  the  great  mitred  Abbots  to  have  castellated  messuages  on  their 
principal  estates,  and  the  Cardinal  or  a  previous  Abbot  may  have  assisted  the 
Ogilvys  in  its  erection,  in  order  that  he  might  have  a  lodging  in  it  when 
he  visited  lands  there.  Half  a  century  ago  the  Castle  was  a  noble 
Gothic  ruin,  but  Thomas  Farquharson  of  Baldovie  took  down  two  wings  of  it 
to  build  a  farmhouse,  which  destroyed  its  beauty  greatly.  In  Forfarshire 
Illustrated,  p.  157,  it  is  said: — "  After  the  secularization  of  the  monasteries 
and  the  distribution  of  the  Church  lauds,  David  Bethune,  who  was  a  near 
relative  of  James  Bethune,  the  last  Popish  Archbishop  of  Glasgow,  was 
designed  of  Balfour."  We  do  not  see  how  this  could  be,  as  Balfour  then,  and 
for  long  thereafter,  belonged  to  the  Ogilvies.  He  may  have  been  laird  of 
Balfour  in  Fife,  or  held  the  superiority  of  this  Balfour. 

The  Ogilvies  of  Balfour  failed  in  a  female,  who  carried  the  property  to  the 
Fothringhams  of  Powrie  about  the  middle  of  last  century.  David  Blair  of 
Haiighhead  and  Cookstone  purchased  Balfour  in  1810,  probably  from  the 
Fothringhams.  Balfour  afterwards  came  into  possession  of  Thomas  Farqu- 
harson  of  Baldovie. 

The  lands  of  Baldovie  had  probably  been  feucd  by  the  Abbot  and  Chapter 
of  Arbroath  early  in  the  sixteenth  century,  but  we  have  not  ascertained  the 
name  of  the  proprietor.  They  were  in  possession  of  the  Hays  about  the  middle 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  if  not  at  an  earlier  period.  On  30th  October, 
1698,  Maria  Hay,  spouse  of  John  Murray  of  Pitculloch,  and  Elizabeth  Hay, 
relict  of  the  deceased  James  Kattray  of  Craighall,  daughter  of  Sir  George 
Hay  of  Megginch,  Knight,  heirs  portioners  of  Patrick  Hay  of  Baldovie,  their 
father,  were  retoured  (No  544)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Baldovie,  compre- 
hending the  lands  and  town  of  Easter  Baldovie,  with  pendicles  called  Brae  of 
Baldovie,  Denhead,  with  tower  and  mansion  of  Easter  Baldovie,  and  teinds, 
E.,  £12  13s  4d,  feudifirmse ;  half  the  land  of  Greenmyre  and  Holmes,  and 
pendicle  called  Auchmidiefaulds,  and  teinds,  E.,  23s  4d ;  lands  and  town  of 
Wester  Baldovie,  with  teinds,  E.,  £12  6s,  and  13s  4d  in  augmentation  ;  in 
the  parish  of  Kingoldrum,  all  erected  into  the  barony  of  Baldovie. 

Baldovie  was  afterwards  possessed  by  a  family  named  Hunter.  The  estate 
was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  Ogilvy  family.  On  the  death  of  Dr  Ogilvy, 
the  male  line  failed,  and  the  property  came  to  John  Farquharson  by  his 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Piamsay,  the  eldest  niece  and  heiress  of  Dr  Ogilvy, 


36  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

shortly  after  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  They  had  a  son,  Thomas, 
born  3d  October,  1770,  and  two  daughters.  Thomas  succeeded  to  Baldovie 
on  the  death  of  his  father.  He  added  the  adjoining  estate  of  Balfour  to  his 
property,  and  died  without  issue,  21st  November,  18G0.  He  was  a  J.P.  and 
D.L.  for  the  County  of  Forfar,  and  tlie  last  male  representative  of  the  Farqu- 
harsons  of  Brochdearg,  in  lineal  descent  from  the  chieftain,  Findla  More,  the 
lioyal  standard-bearer,  who  fell  in  defence  of  his  country  at  the  battle  of 
Pinkie,  in  September,  1547.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  cousin.  Captain 
Mitchell,  a  native  of  Lintrathen,  whose  father  was  long  factor  to  the  Earl  of 
Airlie.  He  died  unmarried  in  1865,  aged  84.  He  was  a  Koman  Catholic, 
and  left  £50,000  to  erect  and  endow  an  institution  for  the  support  of  poor  and 
aged  priests  of  the  Church  of  Rome,  besides  some  private  legacies.  After  his 
death,  Balfour  and  Baldovie  were  purchased  by  Sir  Thomas  Munro  of  Lindertis, 
Bart.,  who  is  the  present  proprietor. 

The  mansionhouse  of  Baldovie  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Cromie  burn,  and  commands  an  extensive  prospect  of  Strathmore.  It  is 
adorned  with  shrubbery  and  fine  old  trees. 

The  sons  of  Farquhar  are  a  numerous  and  widespread  clan.  Farquhar,  son 
of  Shaw  of  Eothiemurchus,  lived  in  the  reigns  of  Boberts  II.  and  III.,  and 
acquired  possessions  in  the  Braes  of  Mar.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Patrick 
Duncanson  alias  Robertson,  first  of  the  family  of  Lude.  Farquhar,  second  in 
descent  from  the  first  mentioned,  married  and  settled  in  the  Braes  of  Angus, 
and  the  famihes  of  these  Farquhars  were  called  sons  of  Farquhar  or  Farquhar- 
son.  The  chief  of  the  race  is  the  family  of  Invercauld.  Members  of  the 
Angus  Farquhars  obtained  the  lands  of  Balfour  and  Baldovie  in  Kingoldrum, 
Pochaliie,  Finnigand,  and  others  on  the  Sheeand  Ericht.  It  is  locally  said 
that  not  many  years  ago  the  sept  could  have  gone  from  about  Blairgowrie  to 
beyond  Braemar  on  their  own  lands. 

The  lauds  of  Ascreavie  were  included  in  the  property  acquired  by  James 
Ogilvy  and  his  spouse  from  Cardinal  Beaton.  The  estate  remained  for  many 
generations  in  members  of  the  Ogilvy  family. 

The  late  Colonel  Keith  Young  of  Holyhill,  Sussex,  who  died  in  1827, 
married  Catherine,  only  child  of  the  late  James  Ogilvy  of  Ascreavie,  by  whom 
he  had  a  son,  William  Baird,  born  1809,  who  succeeded  to  the  estate  of 
Ascreavie  in  succession  to  his  mother.  He  married  first,  in  1831,  Mary, 
eldest  daughter  of  Colonel  Hamelin   Trelawny,  R.A.       She  died  in  1849. 


Chap.  XXIX.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINGOLDRUM.  37 

Secondly,  Lilias,  second  daughter  of  John  Llackwell,  and  has,  with  other 
issue,  Keith  Ogiivy  Baird,  horn  1858,  a  Lieutenant  II. A.,  and  other  issue. 
Major  Young  was  educated  at  the  Koyal  Mihtary  Academy,  Woolwich,  is  a 
Major  R.A.  retired,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  a  Commissioner  of  Supply  for 
the  County  of  Forfar. 

The  estate  of  Aucharroch  had  probably  been  given  off  by  the  Abbot  and 
monks  of  Arbroath  about  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  but  we  have 
not  ascertained  the  names  of  the  early  proprietors.  It  was  recently  ])Ossessed 
by  Francis  Balfour  Paton,  born  in  1815,  who,  in  1851,  married  Ada  Hill, 
daughter  of  George  Craigie,  surgeon,  H.M.E.I.  Service,  by  whom  he  has  a  son, 
Francis,  and  other  issue.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  George  Paton,  Provost  of 
Montrose,  by  Helen,  daughter  of  James  Lyall  of  Braeport.  In  1880,  Mr  Paton 
disposed  of  the  lands  of  Aucharroch  to  John  Wallace,  hotelkeeper,  Alyth,  who 
is  the  present  proprietor. 

Colonel  Thomas  Wedderburn  Ogiivy  of  Euthven  possesses  a  small  property 
in  the  parish  called  the  Mill  and  mill  lands  of  Auld  Allan,  but,  as  mentioned 
in  the  New  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish,  for  some  reason  unknown,  he  has 
never  been  reckoned  as  an  heritor.  The  lands  lie  among  the  mountains  which 
are  known  as  the  Braes  of  Angus. 

The  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Arbroath  disposed  of  the  lands  of  Kinclune  in 
sections  at  different  times.  Three-fourth  parts  of  them  appear  to  have  been 
feued  off  to  a  collateral  branch  of  the  ancient  and  noble  family  of  Fenton  of 
Baikie  shortly  before  or  after  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  they 
remained  in  possession  for  a  considerable  period,  but  we  have  not  ascertained 
to  whom  the  Fentons  disposed  of  the  estate  of  Kinclune.  The  remaining 
fourth  part  was  retained  by  the  Chaj)ter  of  the  Monastery  for  nearly  twenty 
years  after  Balfour  and  the  other  lands  included  in  the  charter  by  Cardinal 
Beaton  had  been  alienated  from  the  Abbey. 

On  1st  October,  1558,  James  Ogiivy,  son  and  heir  of  James  Ogiivy  of 
Balfour  and  Marjory  Durie,  feued  from  the  Abbot  the  fourth  part  of  the  lands 
of  Kinclune,  with  the  teind  sheaves  thereof  included,  "  which  were  never  in 
use  to  be  separated  from  the  stock,  with  all  and  sundry  their  pertinents, 
annexes,  conn  nexes,  dependencies,"  &c.  The  lands  to  beheld  off  the  Abbey 
for  yearly  payments  of  money  and  kind,  the  particulars  of  which  are  given  in 
the  charter  ;  and  for  giving  suit  to  the  three  head  Courts,  or  to  such  other 
Courts  as  the  feuar  shall  be  cited  to  attend ;  to  be  held  at  Cairnconnan,   as 


38  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

use  is,  or  any  other  place  in  their  tolbooth  within  the  burgh  of  Arbroath  yearly. 
The  seisin  was  taken  in  name  of  James  Ogilvy  and  Margaret  Stewart,  his 
spouse. 

James  Ogilvy,  the  second  of  Balfour  and  first  of  Kinclune,  appears  to  have 
been  twice  married,  as  James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour  married  Margaret,  third 
daughter  of  Patrick,  fifth  Lord  Gray,  who  died  in  1581.  The  Ogilvys  appear 
to  have  sold  their  fourth  part  of  Kinclune  in  1618,  the  'lands  having  been 
possessed  by  the  family  for  about  sixty  years. 

A  family  named  Peddie  possessed  a  part  of  Kinclune  for  a  considerable 
period,  but  we  have  not  ascertained  when  it  was  acquired  by  them.  On  16th 
December,  1658,  John  Peddie,  heir  of  James  Peddie,  portioner  of  Kinclune, 
his  father,  was  re  toured  (No.  372)  in  the  eiglith  part  of  the  town  and  lands  of 
Kinclune,  with  the  teind  sheaves,  E.  34s  of  feu-duty.  On  8th  December, 
1685,  Janet  Peddie,  only  daughter  of  John  Peddie,  portioner  of  Kinclune,  was 
served  heir  to  her  father  (retour  618)  in  the  eighth  part  of  the  town  and  lands 
of  Kinclune,  with  the  teind  sheaves  of  the  same. 

The  lands  of  Kinclune  appear  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the  family  of 
Stormonth  before  or  about  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Early  in  the 
eighteenth  century,  Alexander  Edward,  third  son  of  Thomas  Edward  of 
Pearsie,  married  Jean,  daughter  of  Thomas  Stormonth  of  Kinclune.  The 
estate  remained  in  that  family  until  the  death  of  Alexander  Stormonth  of  Kin- 
clune in  1839,  after  Avhich  it  was  sold  by  his  trustees  to  James  Nicoll,  manu- 
facturer, Kirriemuir,  who  died  in  1856,  and  whose  trustees  hold  Kinclune  for 
his  two  daughters,  Mrs  Thomas  Smith  and  Mrs  James  Smith,  Dundee. 

Elizabeth  Farquhar,  one  of  the  three  co-heiresses  of  Colonel  Farquhar  of 
Mounie,  bought  Pitscandly,  in  the  parish  of  Piescobie.  She  married  James, 
eldest  son  of  Stormonth  of  Kinclune,  who  assumed  the  name  of  Farquhar. 
He  joined  Prince  Charles,  and  took  part  in  the  rebellion  of  1745.  He  was 
taken  prisoner,  and  condemned  to  death,  but  on  the  day  before  his  intended 
execution  he  was  reprieved. 

The  estate  of  Kinclune  lies  high  up  in  the  cultivated  portion  of  the  Braes  of 
Angus,  and  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  the  base  of  Catlaw,  which  is  by 
far  the  greatest  of  the  mountains  which  form  the  southern  range  of  the  Forfar- 
shire Grampians. 

There  is  no  mansion  on  the  property,  but  there  is  an  excellent  farmhouse 
and  farm  steading,  which  stand  in  a  prominent  position  to  the  north  of  and 
high  above  the  north  road  leading  from  Kirriemuir  to  Alyth*     The  view  from 


Chap.  XXIX.]    ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KINGOLDRUM.  39 

the  house  is  of  vast  extent,  and  extremely  beautiful.  The  Vale  of  Strathmore 
throughout  its  entire  breadth,  and  a  great  part  of  its  length,  lies,  as  it  were,  at 
your  feet.  In  the  far  west,  Ben  Lawers,  Ben  Voirlich,  and  others  of  the 
western  Grampians  are  seen.  The  Sidlaws  bound  the  view  to  the  south. 
Eastward  the  Finhaven  and  Turin  ranges  of  hills  limit  the  view  in  that  direc- 
tion, and  parts  of  the  Braes  of  Angus  to  the  right  and  to  the  left  form  fine 
pictures.  On  such  varied  and  charming  scenes  one  never  tires  to  look,  and 
leaves  them  with  regret. 

The  estate  of  Pearsie  formed  part  of  "the  village  and  whole  schyre  or  barony 
of  Kingoldrum,"  which  were  bestowed  upon  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  by  King 
William  the  Lion,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  portion  gifted  to  the  Abbey 
by  his  son,  King  Alexander  II.  The  Abbot  and  Sir  William  Moray  appear  to 
have  had  a  dispute  about  part  of  these  lands,  which  had  come  to  him  by  his 
marriage  with  Mary,  daughter  of  Malise,  Earl  of  Strathern  ;  but  in  the  time  of 
Robert  the  Bruce  Sir  William  settled  the  dispute,  as  already  mentioned,  by 
gifting  them  to  the  Convent.  The  lands  remained  in  possession  of  the  Abbey 
until  the  sixteenth  century. 

The  last  recorded  writ  granted  by  Abbot  David  Lichtone  is  a  lease  of  the 
lands  of  "Percie,"  near  Kingoldrum,  on  17th  December,  1502.  These  lands 
at  an  early  period  formed  part  of  the  extensive  forest  of  Kingoldrnm,  in 
which  the  Abbots  had  the  sole  right  of  hunting. 

The  lands  of  Pearsie  appear  to  have  been  feued  before  the  time  of  Abbot 
David  Beaton,  but  the  date  is  unknown.  The  Abbots  feued  their  lands  to  suit 
the  feuars,  and  Pearsie  appears  to  have  been  feued  in  different  portions.  The 
Abbots  retained  the  superiority  of  the  lands  they  feued,  and  the  annual  feu- 
duty  was  payable  to  them  by  the  feuars  or  proprietors.  When  the  Abbey  pro- 
perty, after  the  Reformation,  came  into  the  possession  of  lay  proprietors,  the 
Abbots  retained  the  superiority,  and  drew  the  feu- duties. 

On  5th  May,  1625,  James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  was  served  heir  to  his 
father,  also  Marquis  James  (retonr  154),  in  many  of  the  lands  which  had  be- 
longed to  the  Abbey,  including  Easter  and  Muir  Pearsies,  Wester  Pearsie, 
Middle  Pearsie,  and  other  lauds  in  Kingoldrum  larish,  &c.  This  retour 
applies  to  the  superiorities  only,  and  not  to  the  proprietorship  of  the  lands. 

On  28th  December,  1 643,  John  Ogilvy  of  Balfour,  heir  of  John  Ogilvy  of 
Balfour,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  278)  in  the  lands  of  Balfour,  (fee,  and 
the  multures,  multure  sheaf,  and  ringbear  of  the  barony  of  Kingoldrum,  viz., 


40  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

the  lands  and  towns  of  Easter  Pearsie,  Middle  Pearsie  or  Balgray,  Wester 
Pearsie,  &c. 

On  1st  April,  1662,  George,  Earl  of  Pcanmure,  heir  of  his  father,  Earl 
Patrick,  was  retoured  (No.  384)  in  the  whole  of  the  lauds  of  Kingoldrum,  in- 
cluding the  Pearsies,  as  detailed  above.  Pearsie  still  pays  £4  5s  4d  of  annual 
feu-duty  to  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  as  superior  of  the  lands. 

When  Ochterlony  wrote  his  account  of  the  shire  (1684-5),  Pearsie  was 
owned  by  two  proprietors,  viz.,  Ogilvy  Persie  aad  Lindsay  Persey.  In  "  The 
Lives,"  John  Lindsay  of  Persie  is  mentioned  in  1696,  and  Andrew  Lindsay, 
sometime  of  Persie,  then  of  Mill  of  Lunbog,  is  mentioned  in  1716.  In  a  note 
to  his  account  of  the  shire,  it  is  said : — "  The  Pearsies  now  belong  to  John 
Edward."  He  acquired  Muir  Persie  from  Andrew  Lindsay  in  1698,  and  Wester 
Pearsie  and  Balgray  from  Ogilvy  in  1701. 

John  Edward  of  Pearsie,  who  died  in  1721,  had  five  sons,  Thomas,  David, 
Alexander,  Andrew,  and  John.  David,  the  second  son,  married  Beatrix 
Proctor,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter,  Isobel,  born  in  1718,  who  ultimately 
succeeded  to  Pearsie.  Thomas,  tiie  eldest  son,  who  was  unmarried,  and  David 
were  drowned  in  the  lifetime  of  their  father.  On  the  death  of  John  Edward, 
his  third  son,  Alexander,  took  possession  of  the  property,  but  Isobel  took  the 
case  into  Court,  and,  obtaining  a  decision  in  her  favour,  got  possession  of  the 
estate. 

Alexander  Edward,  the  third  son  of  Thomas,  married  Jean,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Stormonth  of  Kinclune,  in  Kingoldram  parish.  This  estate  remained 
in  that  family  until  the  death  of  Alexander  Stormonth,  in  the  year  1839,  after 
which  it  was  sold  by  his  trustees.  Alexander  Stormonth,  as  will  be  afterwards 
shown,  was  the  father  of  Mrs  Katherine  ^MacLagan  Wedderburn,  the  present 
proprietrix  of  the  estate  of  Pearsie. 

Robert  Wedderburn,  second  son  of  Sir  Alexander  Wedderburn,  Bart,  of 
Blackness,  born  on  13th  February,  1708,  married  Isobel,  heiress  of  Pearsie,  in 
1737,  and  by  her  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

lu  1745,  Robert  Wedderburn  raised  recruits  for  the  Glen-Prosen  company, 
forming  a  part  of  the  second  battalion  of  David,  Lord  Ogilvy,  in  the  army  of 
Prince  Charles.  Sir  John  AVedderburn  of  Blackness  and  his  eldest  son  were 
attached  to  the  company.  Lord  Ogilvy  made  his  escape  on  Pearsie's  horses 
after  the  battle  of  Culloden,  the  Castle  of  Cortachy  being  then  occupied  by 
a  company  of  Government  troops,  under  Captain  Hamilton,  who  soon  after 
detached  a  party  to  take  possession  of  Pearsie,  where  they  lived  at  free  quarters 


Chap.  XXIX.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KINGOLDTIUM.  41 

for  some  time,  Kobert  Wedclerburn  had  to  hide  on  Cathiw  for  some  time 
during  that  troubled  period,  but,  though  strongly  suspected  of  favouring  the 
rebels,  he  managed  to  escape  the  consequences  of  having  participated  in  the 
Eebellion,  and  to  retain  the  office  of  Sheriff  Clerk  of  Forfarshire,  to  which  he 
had  been  appointed  before  the  "45."  Eobert  Wedderburn  died  on  19th 
February,  1786,  and  his  wife,  Isobel  Edward,  on  6th  January,  1788. 

John  Wedderburn,  the  eldest  son  of  the  marriage,  was  born  on  28th  July, 
1744.  He  went  out  to  India,  where  he  died  unmarried  a  Lieutenant-Colonel 
in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  in  1787. 

Charles,  the  second  son,  succeeded  to  Pearsie,  of  whom  hereafter. 

David,  the  third  son,  was  born  on  1.5th  August,  1766,  and  settled  in  London. 
In  compliance  with  the  will  of  his  maternal  grand-uncle,  James  Webster  of 
Clapham,  dated  14th  November,  1789,  David,  by  Eoyal  sign  manual,  on  13th 
January,  1790,  assumed  for  himself  and  his  heirs  for  ever  the  surname  of 
Webster,  in  lieu  and  stead  of  the  surname  of  Wedderburn.  His  change  of 
name  brought  along  with  it  considerable  pecuniary  advantages  ;  but  the  clause 
in  the  will  of  the  testator  enacting  the  disuse  of  the  name  of  Wedderburn  and 
the  assumption  of  the  other  was  so  worded  as  to  be  imperative  on  David  alone, 
and  not  on  his  heirs  male,  who  have  accordingly  born  both  surnames.  David 
married,  on  28th  December,  1785,  Elizabeth,  born  i3th  October,  1770, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Eeid  of  Logie,  by  Anne,  daughter  of  Robert  Fletcher 
of  Ballinshoe,  and  dying  at  Bath  on  21st  March,  1801,  left  issue  by  her,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

Sons. — I.  Sir  James  Webster  Wedderburn,  who  was  born  31st  May,  1789, 
entered  the  Army,  served  in  the  10th  and  11th  Eegiments  of  Dragoons,  and 
retired  in  1810.  He  married,  8th  October,  1810,  Lady  Frances  Caroline  Anne 
Annesley,  fourth  daughter  of  Arthur,  first  Earl  of  Mountmorres,  eighth  Vis- 
count Valentia,  by  his  second  wife,  Sarah,  third  daughter  of  Sir  Henry 
Cavendish,  Bart.,  and  by  her  Ladyship,  born  28th  May,  1793,  had  two  sons 
and  one  daughter.     He  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  in  1822. 

The  eldest  son,  Charles  Byron  Wedderburn,  born  28th  August,  1815,  died 
at  Nantz  in  October,  1817.  Charles  Francis  Webster,  the  second  son,  was 
born  1st  July,  1820,  and  Lucy  Sarah  Anne,  the  daughter,  on  2d  March,  1812. 

II.  Charles  Wedderburn  Webster,  born  10th  September,  1799,  cornet  in 

the  6th  Begiment  of  Dragoon  Guards   in  1821,  and  retired  on  half  pay  in 

1823.     On  23d  December,  1822,  he  married  Eebecca,  youngest  daughter  of 

the  late  Sir  James  Chatterton,  Bart,  of  Castle  Mahon,  in  the  County  of  Cork, 

F 


42  ^  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

and  sister  to  the  second  baronet,  Sir  William  Abraham  Chatterton.     By  her 
he  had  issue,  a  son,  born  on  13th  May,  1824. 

III.  David  Wedderburn  Webster,  born  10th  August,  1801,  died  14th 
May,  1816. 

Daughters. — I.  Ann  Wedderburn,  born  2d  March,  1791,  and  married  in 
August,  1814,  to  Archibald  Murray  Douglas,  captain  in  the  2d  Regiment  of 
Infantry,  son  of  Robert  Douglas  of  Brigton,  and  brother  to  Colonel  Sir  William 
Douglas,  K.C.B.       At  her  death  in  July,  1822,  she  left  issue. 

II.  Mary  Wedderburn,  born  15th  September,  1793,  and  married  on  22d 
March,  1814,  to  George  Hawkins  of  Harnish  House,  in  Wiltshire,  only 
brother  of  Sir  John  Hawkins  of  Kelston,  County  of  Somerset,  Bart. 

We  now  return  to  Charles  Wedderburn,  the  second  son  of  Robert  of  Pearsie, 
and  Isobel  Edward,  his  spouse.  He  was  born  on  1st  August,  1748,  entered 
the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  was  a  Captain  of  Infantry,  and,  after 
being  seventeen  years  in  India,  he  returned  home  in  August,  1785.  On  11th 
September,  1787,  he  married  Anne,  daughter  of  John  Read  of  Cairnie.  She 
died  without  issue  on  20th  Kovember,  1789.  He  married,  secondly,  on  5th 
December,  1797,  Eliza,  daughter  of  Dr  David  Rattray  of  Coventry,  and  niece 
to  Colonel  William  Eattray  of  Downie  Park.  She  also  died  without  leaving 
issue.  He  built  the  present  house  of  Pearsie  in  1805,  and  with  the  view  of 
embellishing  the  estate,  improving  its  amenity,  and  increasing  its  value,  he 
planted  many  trees  on  various  parts  of  the  property,  which  have  now  grown  up, 
and  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  Glen  Prosen.  Charles,  seeing  he  was  child- 
less, entailed  the  property  on  his  sister's  children. 

Elizabeth,  his  eldest  sister,  was  married  to  James  Graham  of  Meathie,  and 
her  sons,  David  and  John  Graham,  successively  succeeded  to  Pearsie,  taking 
the  name  of  Wedderburn,  as  required  by  the  entail.  On  the  death  of  his  uncle 
Charles  in  1829,  David  became  laird  of  Pearsie.  He  and  his  brother,  John, 
neither  of  whom  ever  married,  were  in  the  habit  of  spending  the  winter 
months  in  Dundee,  and  they  frequently  visited  that  town  at  other  times. 
While  they  both  lived,  wherever  they  went  they  went  together ;  they  bore 
considerable  resemblance  to  each  other,  and  the  same  mind  seemed  to  animate 
both.  Indeed,  they  were  so  loving  and  so  loveable  that  they  were  generally 
known  as  the  "  cheerable  brothers.''  But  death  divided  them.  David  died  in 
1859,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  John  Graham  or  Wedderburn, 
who  survived  until  1870,  when  he  went  to  his  brother  who  had  gone  before. 

Katherine,  the  second   sister  of  Charles  Wedderburn,  was  married  to  Dr 


Chap.  XXIX.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINGOLDRUM.  43 

Robert  Stewart,  Dundee,  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter,  Elizabeth  Stewart. 
Isobel,  the  third  sister  of  Charles,  was  married  to  the  Rev.  James  Stormonth, 
minister  of  Airlie,  to  whom  she  had  a  son,  Alexander  Stormonth.  He  married 
his  first  cousin,  EUzabeth  Stewart,  and  their  eldest  daughter,  Katherine,  suc- 
ceeded to  Pearsie  on  the  death  of  John,  the  last  of  the  two  brothers,  in  1870, 
and  she  is  the  present  proprietrix. 

Katherine  Stormonth,  the  Lady  of  Pearsie,  married  the  Rev.  James  Mac- 
Lagan,  D.D.,  and  their  eldest  surviving  son,  Alexander  Stormonth  MacLagan, 
a  medical  gentleman  in  Forfar,  is  the  heir  to  Pearsie.  He  married,  in  1865, 
Ann,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  John  Ogilvie,  soHcitor  in  Dundee.  The  eldest 
son  of  the  marriage,  John,  was  born  in  1869. 

The  mansion  house  of  Pearsie  stands  on  a  prominent  situation  on  the  right 
bank,  within  a  few  minutes'  walk  of,  but  high  above  the  Prosen,  and  about  three 
miles  to  the  west  of  the  point  where  that  stream  falls  into  the  South  Esk.  It 
was  built  at  three  different  times,  the  front  portion  entirely  by  Charles 
Wedderburn  in  1805,  and  it  is  still  a  substantial,  comfortable  house.  The 
entrance  is  in  a  semi-circular  projection  in  the  centre  of  the  front  of  the 
house,  facing  the  south.  It  is  of  tliree  floors,  and  it  commands  grand  pros- 
pects up  Clova,  up  and  down  Glen  Prosen,  and  in  other  directions. 
There  is  a  nice  garden,  and  pleasant  grounds  surround  the  mansion,  making 
it  a  very  desirable  residence,  especially  during  the  summer  season. 

Pearsie  is  one  of  the  finest  properties  in  the  Braes  of  Angus.  It  is  at  a  con- 
siderable altitude,  and  a  large  part  of  the  estate  is  within  the  district  usually 
termed  the  Highlands.  A  portion  of  the  property  is  outwith  that  district,  and 
within  the  cultivated  zone.  The  soil  of  this  part,  though  somewhat  light, 
is  generally  fertile,  and  produces  good  crops  of  the  descriptions  commonly  culti- 
vated in  the  district. 

The  huge  mountain  Catlaw,  with  its  many  summits  and  outlying  ridges  or 
shoulders,  are  largely  covered  with  heath,  affording  food  and  cover  for  grouse 
and  other  winged  game.  Between  these  shoulders  there  are  small  glens,  each 
with  its  little  rill,  which  keeps  the  verdure  on  its  banks  fresh  and  succulent. 
Many  sheep  and  some  cattle  find  nutritious  food  in  the  glens  and  on  the  sides 
of  the  hills. 

To  a  townsman  a  visit  to  Catlaw,  and  a  little  time  spent  wandering  among 
the  glens  around  it,  is  alike  pleasing  and  healthful.  High  up  on  the  side 
of  Catlaw  and  the  spurs  running  out  from  it,  bright  greea  spots  are  here 
and  there  to  be  seen.      Each  is  a  clump  of  moss,  and  there  is  a  spring,  to 


U  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part,  XIV. 

become,  as  it  tricldes  down  the  hillside,  a  tiny  rivulet,  a  little  burn,  swell- 
ing in  volume  as  it  proceeds  onward.  Our  great  rivers  have  all  their  small 
beginnings.  The  purple  heather,  the  rich  scented  furze,  the  yellow  broom, 
the  silvery  birch,  the  mountain  ash,  with  its  golden  fmit,  are  found  on 
such  hills  and  in  the  hollow  glens.  A  ramble  among  such  scenes  yields 
pure  delight,  and  he  has  a  cold  heart  who  is  not,  from  the  contemplation  of 
them,  constrained  to  praise  and  glorify  their  Maker  and  his  for  the  many  bless- 
ings He  bestows  upon  us. 


Chap.  XXX.— KINNELL. 

The  Church  of  Kinnellum  was  a  rectory  in  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews;  and, 
along  with  its  chapel,  is  rated  at  20  merks  in  the  ancient  taxation.  {Reg.  de 
Aberb.,  p  230  )  Theiner  classes  the  churches  of  "  Kynel  et  de  Aldebar" 
together,  and  rates  them  at  4  merks,  10s  8d.  The  chapel  is  supposed  to  have 
stood  near  to  Bolshan.  They  were  dedicated  to  St  Malruib,  Confessor,  the 
patron  saint  of  the  parish. 

In  1512-13,  George  Stirling  gave  £10  out  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Braikie  to 
St  Mary  the  Virgin,  to  SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  Apostles,  to  St  Malruib,  Confessor, 
and  to  a  chaplain  serving  at  the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the  Parish 
Church  of  Kinnell.  In  addition  to  this  altar,  there  appears  to  have  been 
another  dedicated  to  St  Madoc  or  Magdalen.  Maclies  Well  and  Madies 
Haugh  were  upon  the  banks  of  the  Lunan. 

In  1574,  Kinnell,  Arbroath,  St  Vigeans,  and  Ethie  were  served  by  James 
Melvill,  uncle  of  the  celebrated  diarist  of  that  name,  whose  stipend  was  £160 
Scots.  David  Fyff,  reader  at  Kinnell,  had  £12  Scots.  (Mis.  W.  Society, 
p.  352.)  The  priesent  Church  was  erected  in  1855.  There  is  a  gallery  in 
the  west  end,  which  Dr  Walker,  then  incumbent,  gifted  to  the  parish. 
Between  the  years  1702  and  1753  there  were  six  ministers  in  Kinnell.  From 
the  latter  year  until  Ilth  September,  1868,  when  Dr  Walker  died,  there  were 
only  two,  who  between  them  held  the  incumbency  for  the  unprecedented 
period  of  114  years. 

The  Church  of  Kinnell  and  its  surrounding  graveyard  are  finely  situated, 
being  on  the  top  of  a  knoll  which  rises  to  a  considerable  elevation  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Lunan,  about  a  mile  below  the  village  of  Friockheim.       It  is  a 


Chap.  XXX.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KINNELL.  45 

neat,  substantial,  well-lighted  structure,  with  a  belfry,  over  which  is  a  pro- 
minent finial,  on  its  west  gable.     The  bell  is  inscribed  as  follows  : — 
Michael  Borgerhvys.  me.  fecit. 
1624.  Soli.  Deo.  Gloria. 
The  pulpit  is   on  the  east  end.     The  interior  is  neatly  painted,  and  has  a 
pleasing   appearance.     On  the   walls  in  the   interior   of   the   Church  there 
are    two   monuments   to   two   ministers    of   the    parish,   viz..   Rev.    James 
Thomson,  died  1684,  and  Rev.  George  Walker,  D.D.,  died  1868.       The 
interior  walls  are  adorned  with  other  monuments,  one  of  which  is  a  handsome 
marble  tablet,  erected  by  Alexander  Gavin,  merchant  in  Montrose,  who,  the 
monument  bears,  bought  the  estate  of  Easter  Braikie  for  his  son.     The  father 
and  son  are  noticed  in  the  proprietary  history  of  Easter  Braikie.    The  inscrip- 
tion shows  that  the  erector  had  not  wanted  vanity.     A  slab,  with  armorial 
bearings,  is  on  the  eastern  outer  wall  of  the  Church,  and  another  leans  against 
the  wall. 

The  Church  and  graveyard  are  surrounded  with  a  wall  and  some  large 
trees.  Were  the  gravestones  properly  arranged,  few  parish  churches  in  the 
county  would  surpass  Kinnell  for  beauty  of  situation,  or  for  the  convenience, 
neatness,  and  completeness  of  its  equipments.  The  comfortable  manse  stands 
to  the  south  of  the  Church.,  with  a  terraced  garden  in  front,  sloping  down  to 
the  stream.  Here  there  is  a  deep  pool,  whence  the  name  of  the  parish,  signify- 
ing the  head  of  the  pool,  is  supposed  to  have  been  derived.  In  the  garden 
wall  is  the  sculptured  stone  fragment  on  which  is  the  carving  of  two  serpents, 
described  Vol.  I.,  p.  28.  It  is  said  to  have  been  found  in  the  Ogilvy  burial 
aisle.  Near  to  it  is  a  fragment  of  another  stone,  which  Mr  Davidson,  the 
minister  of  the  parish,  unearthed.  On  it  are  two  figures  of  leopards'  shape. 
Since  it  was  placed  in  the  wall  part  of  the  body  of  one  of  them  has  split  off. 
The  curled  tail  and  part  of  the  body  of  one  of  the  animals  is  still  very  distinct. 

The  parish  of  Kinnell  is  about  four  miles  in  extreme  length  from  east  to 
west,  and  nearly  three  miles  in  extreme  breadth  from  north  to  south.  It  con- 
tains 6593-796  acres,  of  which  1 6714  are  water.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Farnell,  east  by  Craig,  south-east  and  south  by  Inverkeilor,  and  on  the  west 
by  Guthrie  and  a  detached  part  of  Kirkden. 

The  original  barony  of  Kinnell  comprehended  the  greater  part  of  the  parish. 
The  Church  was  erected  near  the  park  wall  of  the  baronial  residence,  of  which 
some  vestiges  are  still  discernible  under  the  name  of  White  Walls,  in  one  of 
the  fields  of  Kinnell  Mill,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Lunan,  at  a  short  distance 


46  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

south-westward  of  the  Church.  The  Moot  Law,  or  Court  Hill,  and  the 
Gallows  Hill  are  both  remaining  not  flir  from  the  Kirkton.  An  old,  square 
object  called  the  deid  hell  long  hung  within  the  Church.  It  is  now  used  as  a 
dinner  bell  at  the  manse.  We  are  indebted  to  Mr  Davidson,  the  respected 
minister,  for  his  kindness  when  we  visited  the  Church  and  manse. 

In  the  old  Statistical  Account  it  is  stated  that  a  mound  was  lately  opened 
and  human  bones  of  a  large  sii^e  found  in  it,  also  an  urn  containing  buried 
human  bones.  Tradition  says  that  in  the  flight  of  the  Ogilvies  after  the  battle  of 
Arbroath  in  1445-6,  a  clansman  of  the  name  of  Irons  was  slain.  On  account  of 
his  great  size,  his  boot  and  spur  were  taken  off  and  hung  up  in  an  aisle  adjoin- 
ing the  Church  belonging  to  the  family  of  Airlie.  The  boot  in  time  perished 
through  decay,  but  the  spur  still  remains.  It  measures  eight  inches  in  length, 
and  four  and  a  half  in  breadth,  and  the  rowel  is  as  large  as  a  crown  piece.  The 
spur  is  now  hung  over  the  stair  leading  to  the  gallery  in  the  west  end  of  the 
Church  of  Kinnell.  The  battle  of  Arbroath  was  fought  on  Douglas  Muir, 
within  a  short  distance  of,  if  not  partly  in  the  parish  of  Kinnell,  and  about 
500  of  the  Ogilvies  were  slain  by  the  Lindsays.       (Lives.) 

In  1790,  a  boy  going  from  school  in  Kinnell  found  under  a  piece  of  slate  a 
considerable  number  of  silver  pennies,  some  of  them  in  good  preservation. 
They  were  the  coinage  of  one  of  the  Edwards  of  England,  Ed.  It.Angl.  Hyh. 
being  on  the  obverse,  and  Civitas  London  on  the  reverse  of  some  of  them,  and 
Civitas  Cantor,  and  Civitas  Duhlinensis  on  others. 

On  26th  November,  1404,  King  Robert  HI.  confirmed  a  charter,  dated  26th 
May,  1404,  by  John  of  Ogistoun,  laird  of  the  barony  of  Crag  and  of  Glenylefe, 
to  Walter  of  Ogilvy  of  Carcary  for  his  services  and  counsel  rendered  to  the 
granter,  of  the  lands  of  Kynbredy  and  Breky,  in  the  foresaid  barony,  which 
lands  Walter  had  before  held  off  Sir  Thomas  of  Melgdrome,  laird  of  Auchnefe, 
as  his  superior  thereof,  and  which  Sir  Thomas  had  resigned  into  John's 
hands,  as  baron  of  the  same,  to  be  held  by  Walter  and  his  heirs  off  the  granter 
and  his  heirs,  in  feu  and  heritage  for  ever,  for  rendering  three  suits  of  Court 
at  the  three  head  pleas,  to  be  held  at  Crag  of  Glenylefe,  together  with  the 
forinsec  service  used  and  wont,  ward  and  relief.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  540 ;  In.  to 
Ch.,  143-92.) 

Previous  to  the  year  1314,  the  barony  of  Kinnell,  subsequently  called 
Braikie,  appears  to  have  been  vested  in  the  Crown,  but  during  the  year  after 
the  battle  of  Bannockburn,  the  Bruce  granted  the  barony  to  Simon  Eraser 


Chap.  XXX.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNELL.  47 

of  Oliver  Castle  and  Nedpath,  the  chief  of  the  Clan  Fraser.  The  Frasers 
possessed  large  lands  in  the  south  of  Scotland,  and  the  chief  was  High  Sheriff 
of  Peeblesshire.  About  1249  Sir  Simon  was  chief.  Sir  Simon  commanded 
the  Scots  at  the  Battle  of  Roslin  Muir,  near  Edinburgh,  in  March,  1302.  He 
was  afterwards  captured  by  the  English,  and  executed  by  Edward  I.  His  son, 
also  Simon,  was  sent  by  Edward  to  France,  escaped,  and  joined  the  Bruce.  In 
his  absence  Hay  of  Tweedale,  and  Fleming  of  Brigton  married  his  sisters 
and  appropriated  his  lands.  On  his  return  he  wanted  to  remove  them,  but 
King  Eobert,  not  wanting  to  displease  his  adherents,  gave  Fraser,  instead  of 
his  own  lands,  the  barony  of  Kinnell,  and  an  estate  in  Inverness-shire  which 
had  fallen  to  the  Crown  by  the  forfeiture  of  Sir  John  Bisset.  He  also  gave 
him  in  marriage  his  niece,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Ross,  by  Lady  Matilda, 
the  King's  sister.     (Mems.  of  Simon  Fraser,  Lord  Lovat,  Montrose,  1767.) 

The  superiority  of  Kinnell  may  have  been  bestowed  by  the  King  upon  the 
Dunbars,  Earls  of  Moray,  the  Frasers  being  their  vassals.  About  1390,  Hugh 
Fraser  of  Kinnell,  and  first  of  Lovat,  granted  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Aucli- 
thandalyn,  in  the  barony  of  Ivinnell,  to  William  Chalmers  of  Auchnawys. 
The  charter  is  sealed  with  the  seal  of  the  granter,  and  "  for  stronger  evidence 
and  additional  security  the  seal  domini  mei  John  Dunbar,  Earl  of  Moray,  is 
also  afiSxed."  Hugh  Fraser  was  a  descendant  of  Simon  Fraser,  the  friend  of 
Bruce.  The  purchaser  had  retained  the  land  for  a  very  short  time,  as  on  5th 
November,  the  same  year,  1390,  the  said  Hugh  Fraser  granted  Walter  of 
Tulloch  a  charter  of  the  same  lands  which  formerly  belonged  to  William 
Chalmers,  laird  of  Auchnawys,  and  had  been  resigned  by  him.  The  terms 
were  the  same  as  in  the  charter  granted  to  Chalmers.    (H.  of  C  of  S.,  497-538.) 

On  26th  March,  1391,  Eobert  III.  granted  a  charter  confirming  the 
charter  to  Walter  of  Tulloch,  and  granting  to  him  and  his  heirs  common 
pasture  in  the  King's  moors  of  Montreathmont  for  their  own  cattle  and 
those  of  their  people  dwelling  upon  the  lands  of  Auchthandlane.     (Do.) 

We  have  not  ascertained  how  long  the  Tullochs  continued  to  possess  the 
lands  of  Auchthandlane,  but  the  Walter  who  got  the  charter  of  them 
was  no  doubt  the  same  person  as  mentioned  in  Vol.  HI.,  p.  193,  who  had  the 
office  of  keeper  of  Montreathmont  Moor  conferred  upon  him  by  Robert  HI. 
It  is,  therefore,  probable,  that  the  family  had  held  the  lands  in  this  parish,  of 
which  they  had  charter,  for  a  long  period.  The  next  family  who  possessed 
the  lauds  of  whom  we  have  any  account  is  that  of  Carnegie.      Precept  for 


48  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

infefting  Sir  David  Carnegie  of  Kinnaird  in  the  lands  of  Auchquhandlane, 
bought  from  Thomas  Fraser  of  Kinnell,  was  dated  27th  January,  1612. 
(H.  of  C.  of  S.,  41.)  These  lands  appear  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the 
family  of  Douglas  of  Bridgeford,  as  will  be  shown  in  the  proprietary  history  of 
Kinnell.  Auchanlane  may  be  the  lands  now  known  as  Whanland,  which 
are  included  in  the  Southesk  estate. 

The  lands  of  Auchnawys  or  Balnawis  are  said  to  have  been  at  an  early 
period  the  property  of  a  family  who  took  their  surname  from  their  lands,  and 
that  the  estate  passed  from  that  family  to  the  Frasers.  (Bar.  of  A.  & 
M.,  p.  17.) 

On  31st  October,  1501,  George,  fifth  Lord  Glamis,  had  a  charter  of 
Balnawis  and  part  of  Kinnell  from  Thomas,  Lord  Fraser  of  Lovat.  (Doug. 
P.,  II.,  p.  565.)  This  property  may  have  passed  from  Lord  Glamis  to  another 
member  of  the  family,  as  David  Lyon  of  Kinnell,  in  1511,  received  from 
Alexander  Lindsay  le  Forket  Aker,  in  Brechin.     (L.  of  L.,  269.) 

The  lands  appear  to  have  again  come  into  possession  of  the  Frazers.  On 
20th  August,  1642,  Thomas  Fraser,  heir  of  Thomas,  Lord  Fraser,  his  grand- 
father, was  retoured  (No.  272)  in  Balnaves  and  other  lands  in  Kinnell. 

The  Abbe  or  Abbot  Donald  of  Brechin  gave  the  davoch  of  Ballegilgrand  to 
the  Abbey  of  Arbroath.  These  lands  are  by  some  supposed  to  be  those  of 
Ballishan  or  Bolshan,  in  this  parish.  Bolshan  appears  to  have  been  included 
in  the  estate  of  the  Earls  of  Angus.  Margaret  Stewart,  Countess  of  Angus, 
gave  a  charter  of  Bolshan  to  the  Monastery  of  Arbroath  for  the  welfare  of  the 
soul  of  her  deceased  lord,  John  Stewart,  late  Earl  of  Angus.  (Mon^;,  511.) 
On  31st  October,  1343,  David  II.  confirmed  this  charter. 

In  H.  of  C.  of  S.,  Ivii.,  the  charter  of  above  date,  confirmed  by  David  IL,  is 
said  to  be  those  of  Brekie  and  others,  with  the  commonly  and  common  pasture 
of  the  Moor  of  Montreathmont.  The  gift  may  have  included  the  whole  of 
these  lands.  The  lands  and  barony  of  Bolshan  appear  to  have  come  into  pos- 
session of  the  Ogilvies  in  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth  century.  Walter 
of  Ogilvy,  Lord  of  Bolshan,  was  a  witness  in  1422.  (Aid.  Mis.,  p.  119.) 
This  was  probably  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Carcary,  afterwards  of  Lintrathen  and 
Airlie.  The  Ogilvies  may  have  acquired  the  lands  from  the  Abbot.  The 
head  of  the  Inverquharity  branch  of  the  family  was  chief  bailie  of  the  Abbey, 
and  as  such  they  had  a  residence  at  Bolshan. 


Chap.  XXX.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KINNELL.  49 

On  31st  August,  1558,  James,  Lord  Ogilvy,  was  served  heir  to  James, 
Lord  Ogilvy,  his  uncle,  in  the  lands  of  Ballisclian  and  others. 

On  8th  May,  1688,  Charles,  Earl  of  Southesk,  son  and  heir  of  Earl  Kobert, 
was  retoured  (No.  512)  in  the  lands  of  Mavisbank  and  Combraid,  in  the 
barony  and  parish  of  Kinnell ;  lands  of  Braikie  and  Bolshan,  with  moor  of 
Frith  of  Bolshan  and  commonty ;  office  of  baiHe  of  the  lands  of  Braikie  and 
Bolshan,  in  the  regality  of  Arbroath.  It  appears  that  Sir  Eobert  Carnegie  of 
Kinnaird  and  his  son,  John,  had  been  appointed  Ogilvy's  bailies  depute  in  the 
sixteenth  century.  It  was  probably  to  the  superiority  of  the  above-mentioned 
properties  that  the  Earl  was  served  heir. 

Ketour  of  service  before  Sir  Robert  and  his  son,  bailies  of  the  regality  of 
Arbroath,  of  James,  Lord  Ogilvy  of  Airlie,  in  the  lands  of  Breko  and  Balli- 
schin,  in  the  regality,  which  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Commendator  and 
Convent  for  eight  months  or  thereby,  since  the  decease  of  Lady  Sinclair  ;  con- 
junct fiar  thereof,  by  reason  of  the,  non-entry  of  the  said  James,  Lord  Ogilvy, 
sealed  at  the  Abbey  of  Aberbrothock,  31st  August,  1558. 

Bolshan  appears  to  have  passed  from  the  Ogilvies  to  Carnegie  of  Kinnaird 
in  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was  a  barony,  and  included  the 
lands  of  Kinnell  until  the  forfeiture  of  the  Earl  of  Southesk,  1716.  Shortly 
after  that  date  the  name  of  the  barony  was  changed  to  Kinnell.  The  lands  of 
Bolshan  remain  part  of  the  estate  of  the  Earl  of  Southesk. 

The  chapel  which  was  once  attached  to  the  Church  of  Kinnell  is  believed  to 
have  stood  at  Bolshan.  Nearly  fifty  years  ago,  in  draining  a  field  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  farmhouse,  foundations  were  discovered,  which  were  supposed 
to  be  those  of  the  chapel  and  graveyard,  the  remains  of  human  bodies  being 
found  in  the  latter. 

The  Castle  of  Bolshan,  which,  in  1612,  was  said  to  be  "  the  Lord  Ogilvy's 
special  residence,"  has  wholly  disappeared,  but  the  Hill  of  Bolshan,  on  which 
it  stood,  remains  a  very  prominent  object  in  the  district. 

Andrew  Brown,  tenant  in  Mains  of  Bolshan,  was  in  1729  described  as  being 
"  substantial,  and  a  well-employed  wright,"  while  James,  another  of  the 
family,  tenant  of  part  of  Pitmickie,  was  "  pretty  well  upon  it,  being  a  flesher 
to  his  trade."  These  descriptions  of  the  factor  for  the  York  Buildings  Com- 
pany, who  had  the  management  of  the  forfeited  properties,  are  graphic.  These 
were  the  ancestors  of  Andrew,  John,  James,  and  William  Brown,  opulent 
merchants  in  Dundee,  and  James  was  at  one  time  Provost  of  the  Burgh.  The 
four  brothers  have  been  dead  for  many  years. 


# 


50  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  Castle  of  Braikie  stands  on  a  rising  ground  at  some  distance  to  the 
eastward  of  the  Church  of  Kinnell.  Although  some  parts  of  it  are  in  a  mode- 
rate state  of  preservation,  no  part  is  habitable.  It  forms  two  sides  of  a  square, 
and  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  south  wall  of  the  north  part 
with  the  east  wall  of  the  south  part  of  the  building  is  the  entrance,  a  low  door, 
within  which  there  was,  and  still  is,  a  strong  iron  gate,  with  bolt  and  bar 
entering  the  walls,  which  secured  the  entrance,  and  kept  out  intruders.  From 
this  a  passage  on  the  left  led  to  the  ground  floor,  or  dungeon,  arched  and 
lighted  with  small  loopholes  ;  on  the  other  side  a  stair  led  to  the  hall  above  the 
dungeon,  and  to  the  other  apartments.  A  turret  is  perched  on  the  top  of  the 
south-west  angle.  Over  the  entrance  is  a  slab  bearing  the  Eraser  arms,  three 
cinque  foils,  impaled  with  those  of  Kinnaird  of  Culbin  in  Morayshire,  viz., 
quarterly,  first  and  fourth,  three  crescents  for  Fraser,  second  and  third,  three 
mullets  for  his  \nfe,  a  daughter  of  Kinnaird.  Over  the  arms  is  the  motto — 
SOLI  DEO  CONFIDO,  with  the  date  1.581.     The  letters  T.  F.,  for  Thomas 

Frazer,  with  O.K.,  for  C Kinnaird  underneath  them,  are  on  the  slab 

outside  the  arms.  The  Castle  is  surrounded  by  a  number  of  large  old  trees 
and  it  commands  a  fine  view  in  most  directions.  Thomas  Fraser,  whose  arms 
and  initials  are  on  the  Castle,  was  probably  a  younger  son  of  Alexander,  fifth 
Lord  Lovat,  he  being  the  only  Thomas  about  that  time. 

Hugh  Fraser,  Lord  of  Lovat  and  Kynnill,  on  30th  March,  1407,  granted  a 
charter  to  his  beloved  cousin,  Peter  de  Strivelyn,  and  John  de  Stirling,  his 
son,  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Braikie,  within  the  barony  of  Kinnell.  (His.  of 
Beau.  Pri.,  p.  95  ;  Reg.  Mag.  Sil,  243-2.)  The  lands  of  Balneaves,  Renmuir 
(then  called  Binqmjr)  and  others  were  included  in  the  charter.  Robert,  Duke 
of  Albany,  Regent,  confirmed  the  charter  on  30th  March,  1410.  (In.  to  Ch. 
165-2.)  John  de  Stirling  had  a  charter  of  Easter  Braikie,  &c.,  from  Hugh, 
Lord  Lovat,  his  superior,  in  1476.  John  Stirling  was  a  juror  on  1st  January, 
1454.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  18.)  George  Stirling  of  Easter  Braikie  was  a  witness 
on  23d  January,  1498.  (Aid.  Llis.^,  392.)  In  1512,  John  StirKng  of  Easter 
Braikie  founded  an  altar  in  the  parish  Church  of  Kinnel,  and  endowed  it  with 
ten  pounds  sterling  out  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Braikie.  In  the  rent  roll  of  the 
town  of  Dundee,  about  1570,  a  "Laird  of  Braikie,"  named  StirUng,  is  men- 
tioned as  proprietor  of  a  land  in  the  Overgate  Street  of  Dundee.  It  had  been 
his  town  residence.  Thomas  Fraser,  whose  initials  and  date  1581  are  on 
Braikie  Castle,  had  probably  been  a  contemporary  of  his.  We  have  not  ascer- 
tained when  the  lands  of  Easter  Braikie,  Renmm-e,  &c.,  passed  from  the 


Chap.  XXX.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNELL.  51 

Stirlings,  nor  by  whom  they  were  acquired,  but  they  probably  came  again 
into  possession  of  the  Frasers,  as  we  find  Braikie,  Balneaves,  Kenmure,  &c., 
inchided  in  the  lands  to  which  Thomas  Fraser  succeeded  as  heir  of  his  grand- 
father, Thomas,  Lord  Fraser,  on  20th  August,  1642,  as  will  be  seen  in  the 
proprietary  history  of  Kinnell  given  below. 

From  the  Frasers,  Easter  Braikie,  Renmure,  &c.,  appear  to  have  passed  to 
the  family  of  Gray.  First  to  Thomas  Gray,  then  to  Patrick  Gray,  who  died 
in  1660,  as  his  son,  Patrick,  succeeded  his  father  on  26th  May  of  that  year. 
Eobert  Douglas  of  Bridgeford  succeeded  the  Grays.  He  died  in  1683,  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  lands  by  his  son,  also  Robert,  on  15th  May,  1683.  Ochter- 
lony  says  that  Easter  Braikie  was  possessed  by  Sir  Francis  Ogilvy  of  New 
Grange  when  he  wrote  his  account  of  the  shire,  1684-5.  The  afiairs  of  Sir 
Francis  became  embarrassed  in  1702.  He  was  also  proprietor  of  Lunan,  and 
George  Ogilvy,  fourth  son  of  Sir  John  of  Inverquharity,  purchased  Lunan  in 
1703.  He  married  Jane,  sister  of  Sir  Francis,  and  may  have  acquired  Easter 
Braikie  also,  but  we  are  not  sure  from  whom.  David  Coupar  purchased  the 
estate  of  Easter  Braikie,  comprising  Renmure  and  other  lands,  and  on  21st 
November,  1727,  had  sasine  of  the  lands.  From  him  they  passed  to  David 
Duncan,  writer  in  Edinburgh,  and  William  Brown  of  Gladsmuir,  his  nephews, 
who  in  June,  1749,  were  served  heirs  to  their  uncle  in  Easter  Braikie,  wliich 
included  Renmure,  &c.,  each  of  them  having  one  half  of  the  estate.  David 
Duncan  left  three  daughters,  co-heiresses  of  half  the  lands,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Catherine,  was  married  to  Kenneth,  eldest  son  of  Alexander  McKenzie,  tutor 
to  Lord  Seaforth.  The  trustees  of  the  Misses  Duncan  and  Wilham  Brown 
exposed  the  property  to  public  sale  on  10th  March,  1752,  and  it  was  bought  by 
William  Speed,  Town  Clerk  of  Montrose,  for  David  Gavin  in  Middieburgh, 
who  had  disposition  of  the  lands,  dated  28th  May,  1753,  charter  under  the 
Great  Seal,  6th  August,  1753,  and  sasine  on  14th  January,  1754. 

David  Gavin  was  the  second  son  of  Alexander  Gavin,  sexton  and  beadle  of 
the  parish  of  Lunan,  some  further  particulars  relating  to  whom  will  be  given 
in  the  chapter  on  that  parish. 

David  Gavin  went  to  an  aunt,  Catherine  Gavin,  in  Holland.  A  Dutch 
seaman,  who  was  wrecked  in  Lunan  Bay,  having  received  some  kindness  from 
the  Gavins,  married  their  daughter,  and  she  went  to  Holland  with  her  husband. 
There  David  Gavin  either  made  or  inherited  a  fortune,  and  returned  to  Scot- 
land, but  before  his  return,  he  had,  as  related  above,  acquired  Easter  Braikie. 
In  1757,  he  purchased  the  estate  of  Langton  in  Berwickshire  for  £50,000.    In 


52  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

April,  1770  (contract  dated  2d)  he  married  the  Lady  Elizabeth  Maitland, 
eldest  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale,  by  whom  he  had  four  daughters, 
the  youngest  being  posthumous.  He  died  on  28th  August,  1773.  The 
two  younger  daughters  died  unmarried. 

The  second  daughter,  Christina  Maria,  by  the  marriage  contract  of  her 
parents  succeeded  to  Easter  Braikie,  and  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Baird  of 
Newbyth.  brother  of  Greneral  Sir  David  Baird,  Bart.  The  eldest  daughter, 
Mary  Turner,  inherited  Langton,  which  for  centuries  had  been  the  seat  of  the 
Cockburns,  a  powerful  border  family,  and  was  then  worth  £3000  a  year.  In 
1793,  she  was  married  to  the  Earl,  afterwards  the  Marquis  of  Breadalbane, 
and  was  the  mother  of  the  second  Marquis  of  Breadalbane,  of  Lady  Pringle  of 
Suchill,  Bart.,  and  of  the  Duchess  of  Buckingham. 

Alexander  Gavin,  the  sexton  and  beadle  of  Lunan,  was  therefore  the  father- 
in-law  of  an  Earl's  daughter,  and  the  great-grandfather  of  a  IMarquis  and  of  a 
Duchess.  The  blood  of  the  sexton  and  of  the  Royal  House  of  England  thus 
mingle  in  the  veins  of  the  proudest  nobles  in  the  Kingdom. 

In  1810,  the  representatives  of  Baird  of  Newbyth  and  his  wife  sold  the  estate 
of  Easter  Braikie  to  Colin  Alison,  writer  in  Montrose,  and  Procurator-Fiscal  of 
that  burgh.  He  died  in  1829,  leaving  a  son,  John,  and  three  daughters. 
John  was  a  W.S.  in  Edinburgh,  and  died  in  1836  without  leaving  issue.  The 
eldest  daughter,  Jane,  was  married  to  John  Laing,  merchant,  Montrose  ;  Isa- 
bella, to  James  Leighton,  Town  Clerk  of  Montrose  ;  and  Elizabeth  to  Captain 
Archibald  Macneil,  91st  Regiment.  The  estate  of  Easter  Braikie  included  the 
lands  of  Renmure  and  others,  and  the  purchase  was  on  the  joint  behoof  of  the 
purchaser  and  John  Laing.  On  11th  September,  1811,  an  agreement  was 
entered  into  between  them,  whereby  Mr  Alison  obtained  Easter  Braikie,  and 
Mr  Laing,  Renmure.  Mr  Laing  died  in  1828,  and  Renmure  remained  in  the 
family  until  1852,  when  it  was  sold  by  his  trustees  to  George  Scott,  manufac- 
turer in  Brechin,  and  it  is  now  the  property  of  his  son,  David  Scott  of  Een- 
muir,  Brechin. 

The  lands  of  Easter  Braikie  were  possessed  by  Mr  Alison's  family  until  1874, 
when  the  estate  was  sold  to  James  Buyers,  shipowner  in  Aberdeen,  the  dis- 
position being  dated  23d  and  26th  October  of  that  year.  Mr  Buyers  is  the 
present  laird  of  Easter  Braikie.  There  was  an  old  Castle  on  Easter  Braikie 
when  purchased  by  Mr  Alison.  It  was  taken  down  previous  to  the  erection  of 
the  new  mansionhouse  about  1823,  and  no  vestige  of  it  now  remains.  The 
house  built  at  that  time  is  a  comfortable  dwelling,  with  pleasant  surroundings. 


Chap.  XXX.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNELL.  53 

Hugh  Fraser  of  Kinnell  was  the  King's  Baron,  and  proprietor  of  Garlet,  in 
the  parish.  He  sold  these  lands  without  the  permission  of  the  King,  for  which 
he  was  forfeited,  and  they  fell  to  the  King  by  escheat.  On  7th  May,  1404, 
Robert  III.  gave  a  charter  of  them  to  Walter  of  Ogilvy,  to  be  held  by  him  and 
his  heirs  off  the  King,  or  the  party  to  whom  the  escheat  should  belong  in  feu 
and  heritage  for  the  services  used  and  wont.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  504.) 

On  24th  July,  1448,  King  James  II.  granted  to  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Lin- 
trathen.  Knight,  and  Margaret,  Countess  of  Moray,  his  spouse,  a  charter  of  the 
lands  of  Garlate,  in  the  shire  of  Forfar,  to  be  held  off  the  King  and  his  suc- 
cessors for  ever  for  services  used  and  wont.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  518.) 

The  lands  of  Grarlate  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  the  Carnegies, 
On  8th  May,  1688,  Charles,  Earl  of  Southesk,  was  retoured  (No.  512)  in  the 
lands  of  Garlact  and  Kinnell  Moor  within  the  barony  of  Lintrathen. 

In  the  Reg.  Ep.  Br.  II.,  p.  243,  it  is  said  John  Moncur  and  Margaret 
Collace,  his  spouse,  had  charter  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Fawside  of  Braikie 
and  of  Blacklaws,  Glasland,  and  Fisherland.  We  have  omitted  the  date,  but 
we  think  it  was  in  1625. 

The  barony  of  Kinnell  had  at  an  early  period  been  divided  among  several 
proprietors.  We  have  shown  above  that  Robert  I.  bestowed  it  upon  his  faith- 
ful friend,  Simon  Fraser,  in  1314.  If  this  gift  included  the  whole  of  the 
barony,  part  of  it  must  have  been  given  off  within  a  comparatively  short  time. 
The  fourth  part  of  the  lands  of  Kinnell  and  of  the  mill  thereof  belonged  to 
James  Eme  of  Lathume  (?  Letham)  in  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth  century. 
They  were  church  lands  belonging  to  the  Bishop  and  Chapter  of  St  Andrews, 
and  he  resigned  them  into  the  hands  of  the  Bishop.  On  6th  June,  1435, 
Henry  Wardlaw,  the  bishop,  gave  a  precept  of  sasine  for  infefting  Sir  Walter 
of  Ogilvy,  of  Lintrathen,  knight,  of  these  lands  of  Kinnell  and  the  mill  thereof. 
(H.  ofC.  ofS.,  513.) 

Another  eighth  part  of  the  lands  of  Kirkton  of  Kinnell  belonged  to  Thomas 
of  Schelgrene.  On  20th  March,  1446,  he  granted  to  Sir  John  Ogilvy  a 
charter  of  his  eighth  part  of  these  lands  for  a  certain  sum  of  money,  to  be 
held  by  him  and  his  heirs  of  the  Bishops  of  St  Andrews  in  feu  and  heritage 
for  ever.  The  lands  were  resigned  into  the  hands  of  Bishop  Kennedy  on  23d 
March,  and  the  Bishop  granted  a  charter  of  them  to  Sir  John  the  following 
day.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  514.)  Sir  James  Ogilvy  of  Airlie  had  a  charter  of 
Kinnell,  31st  August,  1480.  (Doug.  I.,  29.)  George,  fifth  Lord  Glamis,  had 
charter  of  part  of  Kinnell  and  Balnawes  from  Thomas,  Lord  Fraser  of  Lovat, 


54  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

31st  October,  1501  (Doug.  II.,  565).  On  5tli  May,  1506,  James,  Lord 
Ogilvy,  was  served  heir  to  his  father,  Lord  John,  in  the  lands  and  mill  of  the 
Kirkton  of  Kinnell,  which  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Archbishop,  the 
Superior,  for  seven  months.     Expede  at  Rescobie  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  523). 

On  9th  August,  1558,  James,  Lord  Ogilvy  of  Airlie,  was  served  heir  to 
James,  Lord  Ogilvy,  his  uncle,  in  the  lands  of  Briko.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  531.)  On 
same  day  he  was  served  heir  of  James,  Lord  Ogilvy,  his  grandfather,  in  the 
lands  of  Kinnell.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  530-44.) 

On  23d  May,  1525,  David,  afterwards  Cardinal  Beaton,  granted  warrant  to 
infeft  James,  Lord  Ogilvy,  in  the  landsof  Braikie,as  heir  of  John,  Lord  Ogilvy, 
his  Grudschyr.     (Arb.  and  its  Ab.,  215.) 

The  Frasers  long  possessed  the  larger  portion  of  the  barony  of  Kinnell  or 
to  Braikie.  The  Regent  Albany  (1406, 1423-4),  granted  confirmation  charter  to 
Alexander  Fraser  and  Elizabeth  Keith,  his  spouse,  of  the  land  of  Kinnell  Ward. 
(In.  to  Ch.,  159-2.)  Thomas,  third  Lord  Lovat,  had  a  Crown  Charter  dated 
1st  June,  1514,  of  the  Dominical  lands  or  Mains  of  Kinnell,  and  of  the  lands  of 
Mainsbank,  parts  of  the  barony  of  Kinnell,  to  him  and  Janet  Gray,  his  wife. 
Thomas  Fraser  of  Braikie  is  mentioned  5th  January,  1565.   (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  51.) 

The  superiority  of  Kinnell  probably  passed  to  the  Crown  on  the  reversion  of 
the  earldom  of  Moray  to  the  King  in  1455,  Hugh  Fraser  and  his  descendants 
being  sub-superiors.  Thomas  Fraser  of  Kinnell  is  mentioned  27th  January, 
1612.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  41.)  On  5th  May,  1625,  James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton, 
succeeded  his  father,  also  Marquis  James,  in  tlie  lands  of  Braikie  and  Bolshan 
(Ret.  154).  This  service  of  an  heir  may  have  been  of  the  superiority  only, 
acquired  by  the  connection  of  that  family  with  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  as  we 
do  not  find  them  as  proprietors  of  the  lauds.  On  20th  August,  1642,  Thomas 
Fraser,  heir  male  of  his  grandfather,  Thomas,  Lord  Fraser,  succeeded  him 
(Ret.  272)  in  the  barony  of  Kinnell,  viz. — in  the  lands  of  Braikie,  Hatton  of 
Kinnell,  Mains  and  Mainsbank,  Balnaves,  and  Renmure,  A.E.  £20,  N.E.  £30. 
This  is  the  latest  notice  of  the  Erasers  in  connection  with  Kinnell  which  we 
have  met  with,  and  they  may  have  from  that  date  ceased  to  own  any  part  of 
the  barony.  Long  prior  to  1642  the  family  had  parted  with  the  bulk  of  the 
property,  including  part  of  the  lands  mentioned  in  that  retour. 

Alexander  Durham,  son  and  heir  of  James  Durham  of  Pitkerro,  had  a 
charter  under  the  great  seal  of  the  lands  of  Hatton  of  Kinnell,  dated  14th 
December,  1620.  Sir  James  Durham  of  Pitkerro  obtained  a  new  charter  of 
the  lands  and  barony  of  Kinnell  1st  March,  1634.    On  7th  June,  1621,  James, 


Chap.  XXX.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNELL.  65 

son  of  Alexander  Durham,  got  a  charter  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Kinnell 
(Bar.  474).  He  was  thereafter  designed  of  Kinnell.  On  21st  July,  1643, 
James  Durham  of  Easter  Powrie,  heir  of  Alexander,  son  of  James  Durham  of 
Pitkerro,  was  retoured  (No.  283)  in  the  lands  of  Hatton  of  Kinnell,  an  annual 
of  75  merks  from  the  lands  of  Wester  Braikie  or  Kinnell,  A.E.  40s,  N.E.  £8. 

The  Durharas  had  not  retained  Kinnell  long  after  the  date  of  that  retour, 
as  Patrick  Gray  acquired  it  a  short  time  thereafter.  On  26th  May,  1660, 
Patrick  Gray,  the  son  of  the  purchaser  of  the  barony,  was  retoured  (No.  422) 
in  them  as  heir  of  his  father.  The  lands  were  those  of  Braikie,  Newbigging, 
Linmill,  and  Boghall,  Hatton  with  the  mill,  Mains  and  Mainsbank,  and  Bal- 
naves,  all  united  in  the  barony  of  Kinnell,  A.E.  £20,  N.E.  £30. 

From  Gray  they  passed  to  Douglas  of  Bridgeford,  in  Caterline,  some  time 
before  15th  May,  1683,  as  on  that  date  Eobert  Douglas  of  Bridgeford,  who 
acquired  the  property,  was  retoured  in  the  barony  of  Kinnell  as  detailed  in 
retours  422  and  492  above,  together  with  privileges  in  the  Moor  of  Montreath- 
mont,  lands  and  superiorities  of  Easter  Braikie  and  Auchanline.  The  pur- 
chase included  a  right  to  the  burial  aisle,  and  to  sittings  in  the  Church  of 
Kinnell. 

Ochterlony  mentions  that  Wester  Braikie  was  owned  by  a  nigh  relation  of 
the  House  of  Gray.  The  Grays  appear  to  have  parted  with  Braikie  a  short 
time  before  his  account  of  the  shire  (1684-5)  was  issued.  He  says  the  house 
was  a  good  one,  and  well  planted. 

The  lands  of  Kinnell  and  Braikie  were  acquired  from  the  Douglas  family  by 
James  Carnegie,  second  son  of  Sir  John  Carnegie,  first  of  Boysack.  In  1686 
he  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  David  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  and  died  in 
1693.  His  son  John,  by  this  lady,  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  the  barony 
of  Kinnell,  on  4th  April,  1695.  He  was  then  a  minor.  The  lands  of  which 
he  was  served  heir  comprehended  those  of  Braikie,  Newbigging,  Linmill,  and 
Boghall,  lands  of  Hatton  of  Kinnell,  lands  of  Mains  and  Mainsbank  and 
Balnaves,  with  servitude,  &c. ,  with  commonty  in  the  Moor  of  Montreathmont, 
lands  and  superiority  of  Easter  Braikie  and  Auchinline,  &c.,  as  in  retour  492. 
He  died  in  1709,  when  his  only  daughter,  Ann  Carnegie,  was  charged  to  enter 
heir  to  him,  and  to  her  grandfather,  James  Carnegie  of  Kinnell  (H.  of  C.  of  S., 
429).  Ann  Carnegie  was  married  to  Eobert,  eldest  son  of  Robert  Carnegie 
of  Ballindarg,  their  contract  of  marriage  being  dated  31st  December,  1724. 

William  Maule,  afterwards  Earl  of  Panmure,  bought  the  estate  from  Robert 
Carnegie,  with  consent  of  his  wife,  in  1742,  and  Kinnell,  with  Wester  Braikie, 


56  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

is  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  who  succeeded  to  the  Panmure 
Estates.  The  free  rental  of  Braikie  was  then  estimated  at  £1450  Scots. 
James  Carnegie,  of  the  family  of  Boysack,  is  designed  of  Kinnell  in  1689,  and 
ofBraikiein  1692. 


Chap.  XXXI.— KINNETTLES. 

The  oldest  forms  in  which  the  name  of  this  parish  appear  are  Kynetles, 
Kynathes,  and  Kynnecles.  In  the  new  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  it  is 
said  to  be  derived  from  the  Gaelic  word  Kinnettles,  signifying  "  the  head  of 
the  bog."  The  Kirkton  is  locally  known  as  the  Bog.  In  the  beginning  of 
the  century  the  site  ot  the  present  Kirkton  was  a  bog  or  marsh.  The  ol 
Statistical  Account  says  •'the  name  applies  with  peculiar  propriety  to  the  old 
mansion  house  of  the  estate  of  Kinnettles,  which  was  built  close  to  a  piece  of 
marshy  ground  called  the  Bogg.  The  church  being  built  within  the  boundaries 
of  this  estate,  that  circumstance  probably  gave  the  name  of  Kinnettles  to  the 
parish."  Jervise  says  it  had  probably  originated  from  the  elevated  position  of 
the  ancient  church,  which  is  supposed  to  have  stood  on  an  eminence  called 
Kirkhill,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Kerbet,  and  about  half-a-mile  higher  up  the 
stream  than  the  present  church,  which  is  on  a  rising  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
stream,  and  between  it  and  what  was  the  Bog. 

The  Church  of  Kinnettles  was  in  the  diocese  of  Sfc  Andrews.  It  is  rated 
at  18  merks  in  the  old  taxation  (Reg.  de  Aber.,  239),  and  in  Bagimont's 
Roll  at  ^06  13s  4d.  This  was  one  of  the  churches  given  by  James  VI.  to  the 
Archbishop  of  St  Andrews  in  lieu  of  some  churches  in  Fife  which  the  King 
had  taken  from  the  Archbishop. 

The  parish  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Forfar,  on  the  south  by  Inverarity, 
and  on  the  west  and  north  by  Glamis,  the  boundary  on  the  north  being  the 
drain  from  the  Loch  of  Forfar,  which  falls  into  the  Kerbet,  when  the  united 
streams  form  the  Dean.  Its  form  is  a  parallelogram,  with  a  triangular  pro- 
jection on  the  north-west  corner.  The  parish  contains  2870-427  acres,  of 
which  10-961  are  water. 

The  Kerbet  runs  through  the  parish  from  south-east  to  north-west,  and  the 
land  on  each  bank  for  a  great  part  of  its  course  rises  gradually,  but  on  the 
north  it  swells  out  into  ihQ  beautiful  hills  of  Fothringham  and  Kinnettles,  the 
upper  parts  of  which  are  crowned  with  thriving  wood.  The  vale  of  the  Kerbet  is 
one  of  the  loveliest  districts  in  the  county,  and  the  plantations  and  pleasure 


Chap.  XXXL]     ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— KINNETTLES.  57 

grounds  around  the  mansions  of  Fothringliam,  Invereighty,  Kinnettles,  and 
Brigton  add  greatly  to  its  beauty.  Some  of  the  trees  in  these  grounds  are  old, 
lofty,  and  graceful. 

The  earliest  known  Kector  of  the  Church  was  Laurence  of  Montealt,  in 
1226.  This  Laurence  and  Robert  of  Montealt,  Sheriff  of  Forfarshire,  are  wit- 
nesses to  the  foundation  charter  of  Blaisondieu,  Brechin,  in  1264.  They  were 
kinsmen  of  the  Montealts,  Lords  of  Fern.  In  1296,  Nicol  de  Merton,  parson  of 
Kynathes,  swore  fealty  to  Edward  I.,  and  in  1300  he  is  a  witness  to  a  grant 
by  Bishop  Lamberton,  of  Dairsie  Church  to  the  Cathedral  of  St  Andrews. 

In  1567  James  Fothringham  was  minister  of  Kinnettles,  Inverarity,  and 
Meathie,  with  a  stipend  of  £100  Scots.  In  1574  Niniane  Clement  was  minister 
of  Kinnettles,  Forfar,  Kesteneth,  and  Tannadice,  with  a  stipend  of  £80  Scots  and 
the  kirk  lands,  and  Alexander  Nevay,  reidare  at  Kynnetles,  with  a  salary  of 
jgi6,  and  kirk  lands  (VVod.  Mis.,  p,  350). 

The  present  church,  built  about  the  beginning  of  the  century,  is  in  the 
plain  style  common  at  tliat  period.  The  pulpit  is  on  the  centre  of  the  south 
wall,  with  a  large  pointed  window  on  each  side,  and  a  gallery  ranning  alono- 
the  west,  north,  and  south  sides,  and  a  small  belfry  on  the  west  end.  The 
church  and  graveyard  are  surrounded  by  a  good  stone  wall,  and  in  the  buryino-- 
ground  are  three  enclosures  belonging  respectively  to  the  estates  of  Brixton 
invereighty,  and  Kinnettles  ;  and  a  number  of  headstones  and  other  monu- 
ments, memorials  of  the  departed  parishioners.  The  previous  church  stood 
on  the  same  site  as  the  present  one,  but  of  its  appearance  we  know  nothino-. 
The  manse  is  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Kerbet,  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
church,  and  is  a  comfortable  dwelling. 

An  excellent  and  handsome  Free  Church,  with  suitable  manse,  was  built  on 
the  south  side  ol  the  public  road  which  passes  the  Kirkton,  immediatelv  after 
the  Disruption,  in  1843,  and  since  then  service  has  been  regularly  held  in  the 
church.  There  is  a  good  garden  attached  to  the  manse,  and  few  Free  churches 
in  country  districts  are  more  completely  equipped,  or  more  handsome  than 
this  church  and  manse.     They  were  the  gift  of  Mrs  John  Harvey. 

In  the  proprietary  account  of  Kinnettles  we  mentioned  that  Alexander 
Strachan  of  Carmylie  received  from  Robert  HI.  a  charter  of  an  annual 
out  of  the  lands  of  Brigton  and  others,  about  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  In  addition  to  the  lands  of  Kinnettles  they  also  acquired  tliose  of 
Brigton,  and  probably  Ingleston,  which  for  a  long  period  formed  part  of  the 
eistate  of  Brigton.      Alexander  Strachan  of  Brigton  was  one  of  an  assize  held 

H 


68  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

on  25th  April,  1513,  and  at  another  assize  on  29th  April,  1514.  (H.  of  C. 
of  S.,  527.)  The  same  person,  or  his  successor  in  Brigton  of  the  same  name, 
was  a  juror  at  another  retour  of  service  on  13th  April,  1532  (do.  528).  On 
12th  February,  1601,  Alexander  Strachan  of  Brigton  was  a  cautioner  for  pay- 
ment of  dowry  to  the  daughter  of  James  Strachan  of  Carmylie,  when  they 
should  be  contracted  in  marriage.    (Mem.  of  Fams.  of  Str.  and  Wise,  p.  16.) 

Alexander  Strachan  of  Brigton,  and  Alexander  Strachan,  "  fear"  of  Brigton, 
were  two  of  the  curators  of  James  Strachan  of  Carmylie,  who,  along  with  him, 
on  1st  May,  1609,  presented  David  Lindsay  to  the  newly  created  parish  of  Car- 
mylie.    Alexander  Strachan  of  Brigton,  heir  of  his  father,  Alexander  Strachan 
of  Brigton,  was  on  28th  December,  1615,  retoured  (No.  90)  in  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Brewlands,  Browsterseats  and  corn  mill,  and  lands  of  Ingleston, 
A  E  £6,  N  E  £24.     Shortly  thereafter  the  Strachans  ceased  to  own  Brigton. 
Brigton  was  acquired  from  the  Strachans  by  Lord  Glamis.      On  31st  July, 
1622,   Patrick,  ninth   Lord  Glamis,   gave   a  charter  of  the  estate  to  Hon. 
Frederick  Lyon,  his  third  son,  and  he  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Lyons  of  Brigion. 
His  mother  was  Lady  Ann,  daughter  of  the  first  Earl  of  Tullibardine.      The 
Lyons  held  Brigton  for  several  generations.       Lyon  of  Brigton  was  M.P.  for 
Forfarshire  from   1644  to  1646.       Patrick  Lyon  of  Brigton  was  one  of  an 
assize  in  1661.      (Reg.  Pan.,  331.)      Lyon  of  Brigton  is  one  of  the  Barons  in 
Edward's  roll  of  1678.     On  24th  March,  1685,  John  Lyon  of  Brigton,  heir  of 
his  brother,  David  of  Brigton,  was  retoured  (No.  495)  in  the  lands  and  barony 
of  Brigton,  comprehending  Brigton,  Scroggerfield,  and  Ingleston  (formerly  in 
the  barony  of  Finhaven).     It  was  Lyon  of  Brigton  who  insulted  Carnegie  of 
Finhaven  in  the  hotel  in  Forfar,  on  9th  May,  1728,  which  led  to  the  death  of 
the  Earl  of  Strathmore  (Vol.  I.,  p.  349).     In  1762  Cecilia  Lyon,  daughter  of 
the  Laird  of  Brigton,  was  married  to  Mungo  Murray  of  Lintrose,  by  whom 
she  had  issue.     Shortly  after  the  date  of  the  marriage,  Brigton  was  acquired 
from  the  Lyons  by  the  family  of  Douglas. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  Brigton  is  entered:  — 

Laird  and  Lady  Brigtoun,  -  -  £512  14     3 

Sir  Patrick  Lyon,  -  .  -  535  15     9 

1048  10    0 
Kinnettles,  -  -  -  _  316134 

Invereighty,  -  -  _  _  300    0    0 

Leckoway,  -  -  _  .  200    0    0 


Total  Valuation  of  the  Parish,  Scots,  £1865    3    4 


Chap,  XXXL]     ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.- KINNETTLES. 


59 


On  the  death  of  Archibald  Douglas,  eighth  Earl  of  Angus,  the  Earldom  de- 
volved on  Sir  AVilliam  Poiiglas  of  Gleubervie,  who  was  descended  from  Sir 
William  Douglas,  second  son  of  Archibald,  fifth  Earl  of  Angus.     By  Elizabeth 
Auchinleck,  heiress  of  Glenbervie,  he  had  Sir  Archibald  Douglas  of  Glenbervie. 
He  married,  first,  Agnes,  daughter  of  William,  Earl  Marischal,  by  whom  he  had 
William,  who  succeeded  as  ninth  Earl  of  Angus  ;  secondly,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Sir  Alexander  Irvine  of  Drum,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  James,  minister 
of  Glenbervie,  and  John,       James  had  a  son,  Eobert  Douglas  of  Kilmonth, 
who  had  a  son  Robert,  who  was  created  Bishop  of  Brechin  in  1682,  and  in 
1684  was  translated  to  Dunblane,  where  he  continued  until  the  devolution, 
when  he  was  deprived.     He  died  at  Dundee  on  22d  September,  1716,  aged  92 
years  ;  he  had  therefore  been  born  in  1716.       He  was  the  father  of  George 
Douglas,  who  was  grandfather  of  William  Douglas  first  of  Brigton.     He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Robert,  at  whose  death  the   property  passed  to  his  son 
William.     It  now  belongs  to  the  trustees  of  William  C.  Douglas. 

Archibald  Murray  Douglas,  captain  25th  Regiment,  born  on  2d  March,  1791, 
was  son  of  Douglas  of  Brigton,  and  brother  of  Colonel  Sir  William  Douglas, 
He  married,  in  August,  1814,  Anne,  daughter  of  D.  Wedderburn  of  Pearsie. 
(Ace.  of  Wed.  of  Wed,,  85.) 

On  24th  June,  1798,  John  Guthrie  of  Guthrie  married  Ann,  second 
daughter  of  William  Douglas  of  Brigton. 

The  armorial  bearings  of  the  family  are : — 
Argent — A  man's  heart,  gules,  ensigned  with  an  Imperial  Crown,  proper,  and  on  a  chief 

azure,  three  stars  of  the  first. 
Crest — A  Salamander  vert,  in  flames  of  fire. 
Motto — Jamais  arriere. 

When  the  estate  was  acquired  by  the  Douglas  family  it  was  an  extensive 
property,  but  the  successive  proprietors  parted  with  farm  after  farm,  the 
greater  part  of  which  has  been  added  to  the  noble  domain  of  the  Earl  of  Strath- 
more.  Now  there  remains  only  the  mansion  house,  which  is  prettily  placed  on 
a  gently  rising  ground  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Kerbet.  It  is  an  old  but  com- 
fortable house,  standing  in  a  fine  park,  with  a  good  garden  and  many  noble 
trees  around.  The  land  now  consists  of  only  one  farm  and  the  policies,  the 
soil  of  all  of  which  consists  of  fine  rich  loam,  and  produces  excellent  crops.. 

While  the  original  estate  of  Douglas  of  Brigton  remained  entire,  the  Baron 
was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  county.  In  the  beautiful  plantation  which 
skirted  their  lands  on  the  south  and  west,  they  had  a  handsomely  built  ice- 


60  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Pabt  XIV. 

house,  on  the  top  of  wliich  there  was  a  fine  statue.  The  house  has  long  been 
without  a  door,  the  well  is  nearly  tilled  with  rubbish,  and  the  statue  disap- 
peared a  century  ago.  Tiie  hillock  on  which  it  stood  is  still  called  the  Ice- 
house Brae.  To  the  west  of  this  was  another  hillock  called  the  Henhouse 
Brae,  on  which  was  large  accommodation  for  poultry,  and  a  house  for  the 
woman  who  had  charge  of  them.  The  ruins  of  the  buildings  mark  the  spot, 
and  the  name  is  still  retained. 

The  lands  of  Fofarty,  extending  to  about  250  acres,  belonged  to  the  Priory 
of  Eesteneth  in  ancient  times.  They  were  probably  gifted  by  Malcolm  (the 
maiden),  the  great  friend  of  the  Priory.  At  the  request  of  William  the  Lion 
they  were  exchanged  for  others  (See  Vol.  III.,  325).  The  lands  of  Fofarty 
adjoin  those  of  Kincaldrum,  and  may  in  early  times  have  been  included  in 
that  estate.  The  family  of  Bower  acquired  Kincaldrum  about  1659,  and, 
being  Roman  Catholics,  one  of  the  lairds  built  a  chapel  on  the  margin  of  a 
small  den  below  the  Hill  of  Kincaldrum,  near  Fofarty.  He  obtained  a  priest 
to  minister  to  them,  and  gave  him  a  house  and  offices,  glebe,  and  garden.  In 
1745  the  chapel  was  burned  by  a  party  of  Royal  Dragoons,  and  it  stood  roof- 
less for  many  years.  Part  of  the  walls  stood  until  about  1815,  when  they  were 
removed,  and  the  stones  used  for  drains,  &c. 

The  stone  which  held  the  holy  water  was  removed  by  the  Laird  to  Kin- 
caldrum, and  it  was  kept  there  while  the  Bowers  possessed  the  lands.  The 
lands  of  Fofarty,  including  the  priest's  glebe,  were  purchased  by  the  Earl  of 
Strathmore  in  1758,  but  the  glebe,  extending  to  fully  five  acres,  the  Earl 
allowed  to  lie  waste  for  several  years  before  he  ventured  to  take  possession  of 
it.  As  mentioned  (Vol.  III.,  325),  the  lands  of  Fofarty  belong  quoad  civilia 
to  the  parish  of  Caputh,  and,  being  church  lands,  they  pay  no  stipend.  In 
1773,  the  General  Assembly  annexed  them  quoad  sacra  to  the  parish  of  Kin- 
nettles,  and  they  so  remain.     The  lands  are  included  in  the  Glamis  estate. 

The  Bishop  of  Dunkeld  owned  Forfarty  prior  to  the  Reformation.  Alexander 
Pyott,  tenant  of  the  lands,  went  to  Dunkeld  to  consult  the  Bishop  about 
taking  means  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  Reformation,  and  telling  him  he 
would  do  everything  in  his  power  that  the  Bishop  might  suggest.  The  Bishop 
was  so  pleased  with  this  good  son  of  the  Church  that  he  wrote  out  a  disposition 
of  the  lands  in  his  ftivour,  which  he  gave  to  his  tenant  as  a  reward  for  the  zeal 
he  was  showing  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church.  This  Pyott  had  been  a  knowing 
person,  and  at  once  flew  off  to  Rome  to  obtain  confirmation  of  the  deed  by  a 


Chap.  XXXI.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNETTLES.  61 

Popish  bull,  which  he  got.  On  his  return  home  he  and  his  were  zealous  de- 
fenders of  the  old  religion,  but  they  could  not  stay  the  downfall  of  Popery,  and 
the  last  Popish  proprietor,  reduced  to  poverty,  sold  the  lands  to  the  Earl  of 
Strathmore,  as  stated  above. 

We  have  already  mentioned  that  the  lands  of  Ingliston  formed  part  of  the 
barony  of  Brigton  when  owned  by  the  Strachans.  It  appears  that  they  had 
sold  part  of  them  before  they  parted  with  Brigton.  Thomas  Wishart  of 
Ballendarg,  heir  of  his  father,  Thomas,  of  the  same,  was,  on  11th  January, 
1612,  retoured  (No.  76)  in  arable  land  of  Ingleston,  extending  to  the  third 
part  of  same,  A.E.  20s,  N.E.  £4.  On  28th  December,  1615,  Alexander 
Strachan  of  Brigton  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  Ingleston,  as  already 
stated  The  Earl  of  Crawford  was  superior  of  half  the  lands  of  Ingliston.  On 
28th  June,  1608,  Earl  David  was  served  heir  to  his  father,  Earl  David,  in  the 
superiority  of  half  the  lands  of  Ingliston,  and  in  the  lands  of  Leckoway.  A.E. 
£4,  N.E.  ;£16  (No.  63).  On  1st  August,  1615,  George,  son  of  Sir  Henry 
Lindsay  of  Careston,  was  retoured  (No.  84)  in  the  superiority  of  same  lands. 
On  12th  June,  1646,  George,  Lord  Spyne,  was  served  heir  of  his  father, 
Alexander  Lord  Spyne,  in  the  same  lands  (No.  290). 

On  6th  July,  1655,  Thomas  Brown,  heir  of  his  father,  James  Brown  of 
Leckoway,  was  retoured  (No.  347)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Leckoway,  over 
and  nether  as  well  sunny  as  shadow  halves  thereof,  within  the  parish  of  Kin- 
nettles  and  barony  of  the  forest  of  Platane,  O.A.  24s,  N.E.  £4  16s.  Leckoway 
belonged  to  Colonel  Laurenson  in  1822.  It  now  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Strath- 
more. The  lands  of  Ingleston  consist  of  three  large  farms,  the  farmhouses 
and  steadings  of  which  are  all  in  close  proximity,  and  form  quite  a  village  with 
the  common  name  of  Ingleston.  They  are  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Strath- 
more, as  are  the  Mains  of  Brigton,  Scroggerfield,  and  others,  acquired  from  the 
Douglas  family. 

The  lands  of  Invereighty  appear  to  have  been  included  in  the  great  territory 
of  the  Earl  of  Angus  in  early  times.  On  the  resignation  of  Margaret  Aber- 
nethy.  Countess  of  Angus,  Sir  Alexander  Lindsay  of  Glenesk  got  a  charter  of 
Invereighty  on  4th  May,  1368,  and  15th  January,  1369  (David  IL,  1329- 
1370,  Doug.  I.,  p.  374),  King  Eobert  Bruce  granted  to  William  Cissori,  a 
charter  of  the  lands  of  Inverrichti  (In.  to  Ch.,  18-73).  David  II.  gave  Kobert 
Balbirny  of  Innerechtie,  a  charter  of  the  office  of  Mair,  and  lands  of  Inner- 


62  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

echtie  (do.  50,  17).  This  family  had  continued  in  possession  of  the  property 
for  a  long  period.  John  Balbirny  of  Invereichtie  was  a  witness  on  28th 
April,  1483.  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  522.)  Thomas  Balbirnie,  who  was  one  of  the 
jurors  at  a  service  in  May,  1560,  is  designed  of  luvereighty  (Keg.  de  Pan., 
308).  This  family  was  succeeded  in  the  estate  by  the  Youngs.  Sir  James 
Young  of  Invereighty,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Peter,  acquired  the  estate,  probably 
before  the  end  of  the  16th  century.  He  was  a  Gentleman  of  the  Bedchamber, 
to  King  James  VI.  The  families  of  Gray  and  Bower  appear  to  have  suc- 
ceeded the  Youngs  as  projirietors  of  Invereighty  about  the  same  period.  Lord 
Gray  was  proprietor  of  Invereighty  and  Lour  on  15th  June,  1595.  The 
lands  may  therefore  have  been  divided  into  two  distinct  properties  at  that  time. 
William  Gray  is  designed  of  Invereighty  on  8th  November,  1653.  (H.  of  C. 
of  S.,  355.)  He  married  Magdalene  Wood  of  Bonny  to  u  about  1650.  Her 
mother  was  Lady  Anne,  daughter  of  the  first  Earl  of  Northesk,  and  her  father, 
Patrick  Wood,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Henry  Wood  of  Bonny  ton.     (Do.  Do.) 

One  of  the  Blairs  of  Balthayock  married  a  daughter  of  Bower  of  Inver- 
eighty, circa  1630.  William  Gray  of  Invereighty  was  Sheriff-Clerk  of  For- 
farshire. On  19th  November,  1650,  Grizel  Bower,  spouse  of  Andrew  Gray, 
son  of  William  Gray,  heir  of  Jean  Bower,  daughter  of  the  late  James  Bower, 
feoditarii  of  Invereighty,  her  sister,  was  retoured  (No.  612)  iu  half  the 
dominical  lands  of  Invereighty,  with  the  pigeon  house,  mill,  &c.  ;  also  office 
maris  feodi  of  the  Dundee  quarter  of  the  county  of  Forfar,  and  other  lands. 

The  Yeamans  of  Dryburgh  appear  to  have  acquired  an  interest  in  Inver- 
eighty shortly  after  the  date  of  retour  612.  On  7th  May,  1678,  Patrick,  son 
of  Master  Patrick  Yeaman  of  Dr3'burgh,  was  retoured  (No.  473)  in  several 
lands,  including  those  of  Invereighty. 

William  Gray  of  Invereighty  is  one  of  the  barons  in  the  county  enumerated 
by  Rev.  Mr  Edward  in  1678.  He  was  a  witness  on  8th  November,  1683. 
(H.  of  C.  of  S.,  355.)  He  was  hereditary  constable  of  Forfar.  Some  of  his 
actings  in  that  capacity  led  to  serious  disputes  with  the  Magistrates  of  Forfar, 
and  the  matter  was  brought  before  the  Privy  Council,  who  favoured  the  pre- 
tensions of  the  constable. 

The  estate  was  acquired  by  Simson,  designed  of  Invereighty.  In  the 
old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish,  1792-3,  it  is  mentioned  that  he  resided  in 
Edinburgh,  and  not  at  his  mansion  of  Invereighty.  The  estate  subsequently 
came  into  possession  of  the  Laurensons.  Colonel  Laureuson  was  proprietor  in 
1822. 


Chap.  XXXI.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNETTLES.  63 

Colonel  Laurenson  retained  the  property  for  some  time,  and  was  succeeded 
in  it  by  his  sou,  Colonel  John  Laurenson  of  the  17th  Lancers.  J.  Laurenson 
of  Invereighty  is  in  the  Edinburgh  Almanac  for  1821.  Shortly  after  his  acces- 
sion to  the  estate  he  sold  it  to  the  Glamis  Trustees.  In  1872  the  trustees 
resold  the  property,  the  southern  portion  of  the  lands  lying  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Kerbet  to  the  Right  Hon.  W.  E.  Baxter  of  Kincaldrum  ;  and  the  northern 
portion,  with  the  mansion  house,  lying  on  the  right  bank  of  the  stream,  to 
James  Paterson  of  Kinnettles.  He  made  many  alterations  upon  the  mansion 
and  surrounding  grounds,  by  which  they  have  been  much  improved  and 
beautified.  The  portion  acquired  by  Mr  Baxter  makes  Kincaldrum  a  more 
compact  property,  and  adds  to  the  amenity  of  the  estate.  Mr  Paterson  died 
in  March,  1882.  The  mansion  and  grounds  of  Invereighty  are  occupied  by 
William  G.  Don,  a  partner  of  the  firm  of  William  &  John  Don  &  Co.,  Forfar. 

The  lands  of  Kinnettles  appear  to  have  been  Crown  property  in  the  time  of 
Robert  III.  This  sovereign  granted  a  pension  out  of  the  lands  of  Kinnettill, 
some  time  between  1398  and  1405.  (In.  to  Ch.,  140-28.  The  same  King 
granted  a  charter  to  Alexander  Strathaquhin  of  Carmylie  of  an  annual  out  of 
the  lands  of  Inglestoun,  Brigtoun,  and  Kinnettles.  (Do.,  149-50).  This 
family  appear  to  have  acquired  a  proprietary  interest  in  the  lands  then,  or  at  a 
subsequent  period.  Alexander  Strachan  of  Kinnettles  was  a  juror  at  an 
inquest  on  28th  April,  1483.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  522). 

Kinnettles  appears  to  have  passed  from  the  Strachans  to  the  Lindsays. 
Robert  Lindsay,  a  cadet  of  the  kniglitly  house  of  Evelick,  descended  from  a 
younger  brother  of  the  third  Earl  of  Crawford,  is  the  first  of  the  name,  ''of 
Kinnettles,"  we  have  found.  The  ruins  of  the  Castle  of  Evelick,  bare  and 
gauilt,  still  stand  high  up  on  the  braes  of  the  Carse  of  Gowrie.  He  acquired 
Kinnettles  about  1511.  In  the  Lives  of  the  Lindsays,  439,  Patrick  Lindsay 
of  Kinnettles  is  mentioned  in  the  years  15G8,  82,  88,  89,  and  97.  On  14th 
Nov.,  1581,  David  Lindsay  of  Kinnettles  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir 
Peter  Young.  David,  elder,  and  David,  younger  of  Kinnettles,  in  1588  and 
1604  ;  David  of  same  was  proprietor  in  1605,  16,  38,  and  41.  (In.  H.  of  C. 
of  S.,  24.)  David  Lindsay  of  Kinnettles,  circa  1530  to  1540.  The  Lindsays 
continued  in  possession  of  the  property  until  about  the  middle  of  the  17th 
century,  whenthey ended  in  a  daughter,  Marjory  Lindsay,  wife  of  David  Lindsay, 
minister  of  Rescobie,  who  died  in  1677,  aged  62 ;  and  his  relict  died  in  1716,  aged 
89.     This  Marjory  Lindsay  appears  to  have  been  the  sister  of  John  Lindsay,  a 


64  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Scot,  minister  of  Blandford,  county  of  Durham,  who  was  father  of  Thomas, 
Archbishop  of  Armagh,  and  Primate  of  Ireland.  The  Primate  died  in  1713 
without  leaving  issue,  and  was  the  last  male  descendant  of  the  Lindsays  of 
Kinnettles. 

Long  prior  to  the  date  when  the  Lindsays  parted  with  Kinnettles  they  had 
incurred  obligations  on  the  estate.  On  23d  June,  16 18,  William  Fullarton 
of  that  ilk  was  retoured  (No.  103)  in  an  annual  of  200  merks,  which  Sir 
William,  his  father,  had  on  the  town  and  lands  of  Kinnettles. 

The  Lindsays  were  succeeded  in  Kinnettles  by  Sir  Thomas  Moodie,  knight, 
Provost  of  Dundee,  as  shown  by  his  will,  dated  28th  February,  1660-1.  He 
left  to  the  Hospital,  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  Dundee,  300  merks  Scots— iB200 
Scots.  (Innes  Rep.  Stip.  Case,  p.  61.)  From  this  family  the  property  passed 
to  Patrick  Bower,  of  the  same  family  as  Alexander  Bower  of  Kincaldrum. 
(Vol.  III.,  399,  410.)  Patrick  Bower  was  a  burgess  of  Dundee.  He 
also  owned  Wester  Meathie,  and  Easter  Meathie  belonged  to  his  brother, 
Alexander  of  Kincaldrum.  Kinnettles  was  acquired  by  Patrick  Bower  shortly 
after  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  the  estate  long  remained  in 
the  family.  On  13th  May,  1735,  WiUiam  Bower  succeeded  to  Kinnettles  as 
heir  of  Patrick  Bower.  James  Bower  succeeded  on  2  Lst  January,  1754.  It 
passed  to  Alexander  Bower,  of  Easter  Meathie,  on  15th  June  same  year.  The 
estate  was  in  possession  of  Alexander  Bower's  trustees  in  1801.  The  old 
mansion  house  of  Kinnettles  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  connecting 
the  Dundee  and  Forfar  turnpike  with  the  Forfar  and  Glamis  highway.  It 
was  a  plain  two  storey  building,  like  a  good  modern  farmhouse. 

On  31st  July,  1750,  a  petition  was  made  to  the  Court  of  Session  by  Alex- 
ander Bower  of  Kinnettles,  tutor  dative  to  Alexander  Bower,  eldest  son  of 
Alexander  Bower  of  Easter  Meathie,  to  whom,  and  the  heir  male  of  his  body, 
the  now  deceased  Alexander  Bower  of  Kincaldrum  had  disponed  his  estate  for 
love  and  favour,  setting  forth  that  Alexander  Bower,  an  infant,  while  under 
the  petitioner's  tutorage,  had  been  carried  to  France  by  his  aunt,  and  settled 
in  the  Scots  College  at  Paris.  The  Lords  appointed  the  petitioner  curator, 
and  James  Hay,  W.S.,  agent.  On  8th  December  following  they  found  the 
conduct  of  James  Hay  in  carrying  out  the  matter  censurable,  and  suspended 
him  from  the  office  of  W.S.,  and  as  agent  or  solicitor  before  the  Court  for  a 
year,  and  fined  him  M5  to  the  poor.     His  offence  is  not  stated. 

John  Harvey,  schoolmaster  of  Midmar,  in  the  parish  of  Cluny,  Aberdeen- 
shire, had  a  family.     Some  of  his  sons  went  to  the  West  Indies,  and  became 


Chap.  XXXI.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.—KINNETTLES.  65 

plaaters  and  merchants.  They  acquired  great  wealth.  The  youngest  son  left 
part  of  his  estate  to  two  nephews,  named  respectively  Aberdein  and  Farquhar. 
They  both  assumed  the  surname  of  Harvey.  John  Aberdein  Harvey  pur- 
chased the  estate  from  the  trustees  of  Alexander  Bower  in  1802.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Fordyce  of  Aberdeen,  a  very  estimable  lady,  and  they  had  a 
numerous  family,  several  of  whom  died  young.  He  built  a  mansion  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  hill  of  Kinnettles.  It  had  a  fine  exposure,  and  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  park  and  plantations,  the  hill,  covered  with  wood,  protecting  it 
from  the  north.  He  also  built  the  modern  Kirkton,  a  neat  range  of  cottages, 
extending  from  the  public  road  to  the  church,  each  of  them  having  a  good 
garden  attached,  and  other  necessary  accommodation.  On  the  death  of  John 
A.  Harvey,  his  eldest  son,  John  Inglis  Harvey,  succeeded  to  the  estate.  He 
went  to  India  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  was  for  many 
years  a  Civil  Judge  in  India.  He  returned  home,  and  in  1861  sold  Kinnettles 
to  James  Paterson,  merchant  in  Dundee.  He  removed  the  old  house,  and  also 
the  modern  mansion,  erected  a  splendid  castellated  mansion  a  little  to  the 
west,  and  rather  higher  up  the  hill  than  where  the  previous  mansion  stood, 
removed  the  farm  steading  from  the  vicinity  of  the  mansion,  built  a  commodious 
new  farmhouse  and  steading  to  the  south  of  the  public  road,  which  he 
straightened,  and  made  many  other  alterations  on  the  estate,  which  added 
greatly  to  the  amenity  and  beauty  of  the  property. 

Personal  services  were  still  common  when  the  old  account  of  the  parish  was 
written  in  1791,  but  they  were  specified  or  limited  by  the  leases,  or  by  private 
arrangements  between  the  proprietors  and  the  tenants  ;  occupiers  of  a  house, 
garden,  and  two  acres  of  land  performed  two  or  three  days'  work  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  as  required  by  the  laird ;  small  farmers  having  a  horse  were 
bound  to  perform  two  horseback  carriages  in  the  course  of  the  year  to  Dundee 
or  a  similar  distance.  The  larger  tenants  were  bound  to  bring  a  certain 
number  of  bolls  of  coals  from  Dundee  to  the  laird's  mansion,  which  occupied 
their  carts  two  or  three  days  in  the  year  ;  also  a  day's  work  of  all  .their  reapers 
for  cutting  down  the  corn  belonging  to  the  proprietor. 

These  services  were  in  place  of  the  old  arrhage  and  carriage,  the  former 
word  being  from  aro,  to  till.  It  implied  driving  out  manure  for  the  laird's 
farm,  labouring  the  land,  reaping  the  crop,  and  carting  it  home.  In  former 
times  the  service  of  carriage  was  very  unlimited,  and  often  exacted  in  a  very 

tyrannical  manner. 
I 


66  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

In  1782  the  spring  was  wet  and  late.  On  29tli  May  rain  began  to  fall,  and 
continued  for  50  hours  without  intermission.  The  summer  was  wet  and  cold. 
On  16th  August  there  was  a  great  flood.  On  the  morning  of  12th  September 
there  was  an  extraordinary  hoar  frost.  About  seven  o'clock  the  sun  was  bright, 
and  melted  the  frost.  A  few  minutes  thereafter  the  pease,  potatoes,  &c.,  looked 
as  if  dipped  in  boiling  water,  corn  changed  from  green  to  white,  and  the  crops 
in  the  low  lying  districts  were  almost  entirely  destroyed,  oats  yielding  mill  dust 
instead  of  meal.  This  was  a  dire  calamity,  and  caused  dearth  and  all  its  atten- 
dant miseries,  to  the  poor  especially.  How  very  much  better  were  the  crops 
in  1882  than  in  17821     We  ought  to  be  truly  grateful  for  bountiful  harvests. 

The  Rev.  Mr  Headrick  says : — "  There  is  some  reason  to  think  that  the 
high  narrow  bridge,  which  has  been  embanked  at  each  end,  which  crosses  the 
Kerbet  at  Douglastown,  on  the  road  leading  from  Perth,  northwards  through 
fetrathmore,  had  been  orignally  built  by  the  Romans  upon  their  military  road 
through  Angus."  The  Romans  probably  had  a  bridge  over  the  Kerbet  at 
this  spot,  as  it  was  in  the  direct  line  between  their  camps  near  Coupar- Angus 
and  Forfar.  The  present  bridge  at  Douglastown  was  built  in  part,  if  not 
wholly,  by  subscription  about  1770.  The  public  road  through  Strathraore 
was  begun  to  be  repaired  or  reformed  on  a  new  plan  in  1789,  and  the  gradients 
made  easier,  the  rule  being,  where  possible,  not  to  have  above  one  foot  of  rise 
in  twenty.  The  road  from  Dundee  to  Forfar  was  repaired  on  the  same  plan, 
at  the  same  time,  and  Mr  Douglas  of  Brigton  superintended  the  formation  of 
so  much  of  them  as  passed  through  the  parish.  The  work  was  done  by  a  sub- 
scription from  the  gentlemen  in  the  county.  The  other  county  roads  were  put 
in  order  about  the  same  time,  or  shortly  thereafter. 

One  of  the  earliest  of  the  flax  spinning  mills  erected  in  Scotland  was  in  this 
parish.  About  the  years  1787-8  William  Douglas,  the  laird  of  Brigton,  gave 
off"  ground  for  the  erection  of  the  mill,  and  houses  for  the  operatives,  to  James 
Ivory  &  Co.,  of  which  firm  he  was  a  partner.  The  work  was  named  Douglastown 
Mill,  and  it  was  carried  on  for  several  years,  but  it  did  not  prove  a  success,  and 
it  was  finally  taken  down,  and  no  part  of  the  undertaking  now  remains  excei^t- 
ing  the  workers'  dwellings  and  the  manager's  house.  The  village  is  situated 
on  the  highway  between  Forfar  and  Glamis,  and  close  by  the  Kerbet.  It  is 
still  called  Douglastown,  and  is  chiefly  occupied  by  tradesmen  and  labourers. 
Some  details  of  the  work  are  given  in  Vol.  III.,  p.  376,  and  a  full  account  of 
the  mill  and  the  troubles  of  the  partners  are  contained  in  my  work  "  The 
Linen  Trade,"  p.  512. 


Chap.  XXXI.*]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIEKDEN.  67 

Some  coins  of  the  first  James  have  been  fomid  in  the  parish.  In  1833  the 
upper  stone  of  a  quern  or  handmill  was  turned  up  in  ploughing  a  field.  It 
was  2.5  inches  in  diameter,  1|  inches  thick,  of  mica-schist,  and  neatly  formed. 

The  Eeverend  David  Ferney,  the  minister  of  the  parish,  who  wrote  the 
account  of  it,  says  "  it  was  an  unlucky  circumstance,  in  assigning  land  to 
ministers,  that  the  Legislature  did  not  think  of  allotting  more — 20  to  25 
acres  might  have  been  managed  with  very  little  additional  expense.  The  four 
or  six  or  eight  acres  of  glebe  is  not  sufficient  to  afford  work  for  a  man  and 
horse  to  work  it,  ajid  the  minister  labours  it  at  a  great  cost."  He  complained 
much  of  the  pitiful  living  of  the  schoolmasters,  "  It  was  mockery  to  pay  a  well 
educated  man  a  salary  of  five  pounds  a  year,  and  a  few  trifling  perquisites  for 
training  the  youth  of  the  parish.  The  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water, 
though  ignorant  as  mules,  were  better  paid."  Times  are  altered  now,  the 
teacher's  attainments  being  appreciated,  and  his  labours  fairly  paid  for. 

The  minister's  views  on  both  the  matters  to  which  he  refers  cannot  be  gain- 
said. The  glebes  are  inconveniently  small,  but  we  fear  there  is  little  proba- 
bility that  they  will  be  generally  enlarged.  The  leaders  of  the  Church  at  the 
period  they  were  allocated  attempted  to  obtain  more  favourable  terms  for  the 
clergy,  but  the  nobles  who  received  grants  of  the  Church  lands  gave  unwill- 
ingly even  the  small  glebes.  The  schoolmasters  have  had  their  position 
greatly  improved  since  the  passing  of  the  School  Board  Act. 

Chap.  XXXI.*-KIRKDEN. 

The  church  of  Edevyn  or  Idvies  was  a  rectory  belonging  to  the  diocese  of 
St  Andrews,  and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  David,  in  1243.  It  is  rated  in  the 
old  taxation  at  15  Merks  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  p.  239),  and  in  Bagimont's  Roll  at 
£\^  (M.  of  A.  &  M.,  p.  427).  The  church  was  dedicated  to  S.  Ruffus  or  Mael- 
rubha.    James  Victie,  parson  of  Idvies,  did  homage  to  King  Edward  I.  in  1296. 

The  Bishop  made  a  visitation  to  the  church  in  1388,  and  issued  an  ordinance 
for  changing  the  site  of  the  manse  of  Idvies.  The  new  ground  is  described  as 
bounded  on  the  east  of  the  church  by  a  ford  upon  the  Vuany,  at  a  heap  of 
stones  near  the  foot  of  the  rock  called  Craignacre  (Reg.  Prior  de  St  And.,  409). 
The  old  kirk  stood  upon  the  lands  of  Gask  in  a  field  called  the  Kirk-shed.  A 
new  church  was  erected  in  the  den  or  dell  of  the  Vinny  about  the  beginning 
of  the  last  century,  and  since  then  the  parish  has  been  called  Kirkden.  The  pre- 
sent church  was  erected  in  1825  by  John  Baxter  of  Idvies,  Thomas  Gardyne  of 


68  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

MidcUeton,  Alexander  Lyell  of  Gardyne,  James  Mudie  of  Pitmuies,  and  John 
Watt  of  Kinneries,  proprietors.  The  church  is  a  plain  building,  with  a  square 
tower  at  its  west  end.     The  graveyard  is  walled  in  and  surrounded  with  trees. 

There  is  a  good  spring  in  the  vicinity  which  bears  the  name  of  Sinruie, 
apparently  a  corruption  of  the  name  of  the  patron  saint.  After  the  Keforma- 
tion  the  Church  of  Eidvie  and  the  three  neighbouring  churches  of  Dunnichtin, 
Eoscoby,  and  Guthrie,  were  served  by  one  minister,  Maister  James  Balfour, 
who  had  a  stipend  of  £133  6s  8d  Scots,  and  the  kirk  lands.  John  Johnston, 
the  schoolmaster  or  reader  at  Idvies,  had  a  salary  of  £20  Scots.  He  was 
followed  by  David  Guthrie,  1574,  at  the  same  salary.  (Mis.  Wod.  Soc,  p.  351.) 

John  Erskine  of  Dun,  Ecclesiastical  Superintendent  of  Angus,  had  an 
annuity  out  of  the  thirds  of  the  parsonage  of  Idvies.  On  7th  December,  1604, 
James  VI.  gave  Sir  Eobert  Melville,  Knight,  of  Murdochcairnie,  the  feu  mails 
of  Letham,  and  the  patronage  of  the  Church  of  Monimail,  in  Fife,  which  had 
belonged  to  the  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews.  He  gave  the  Archbishop  and  his 
successors,  in  lieu  of  these,  the  parsonage  and  vicarages  of  some  Angus 
churches,  including  Idvies. 

Many  stone  coffins,  urns,  flint  arrowheads,  beads,  and  other  remains  of  the 
ancient  inhabitants  have  been  found  in  various  parts  of  the  parish.  The 
sculptured  stone  Avhich  stood  by  the  side  of  the  highway  at  Pitmuies  will  be 
noticed  in  the  proprietary  account  of  that  estate. 

The  parish  is  bounded  by  Eescobie  and  Guthrie  on  the  north,  Kinnell  and 
Inverkeilor  on  the  east,  Carmylie  on  the  south,  and  Dunnichen  on  the  west. 
It  is  nearly  seven  miles  in  length  from  east  to  west,  and  less  than  two  miles  in 
breadth  at  any  point.  The  acreage  of  the  parish  is  5018'326,  whereof  19*433 
are  water.  The  surface  is  comparatively  level,  but  some  parts  are  slightly 
imdulating,  the  highest  ground  being  on  the  south,  where  the  Sidlaws  termi- 
nate. There  are  two  artificial  mounds  called  Laws,  the  one  in  the  barony  of 
Idvies,  and  the  other  in  the  barony  of  Gardyne,  on  which,  in  feudal  times,  the 
baron's  retainers  and  others  who  offended  him  were  tried  and  punished.  Both 
are  crowned  with  trees,  and  are  pretty  objects  in  the  landscape.  The  soil  is 
chiefly  composed  of  the  disintegration  of  sandstone  and  trap  rocks,  and  is 
rather  light,  but  it  produces  good  crops  where  well  farmed. 

Eegarding  the  climate  of  this  parish  the  writer  of  the  old  Statistical 
Account  says: — "  The  air  is  commonly  clear  and  salubrious,  excepting  some- 
times in  the  evening  about  the  end  of  April  or  the  beginning  of  May,  when 
the  wind  is  westerly.      In  the  pleasant  days,  and  sometimes  for  several  days 


Chap.  XXXI.*]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRKDEN.  ^9 

together,  we  see  the  fog  rising  on  the  German  Ocean  about  three  or  four 
o'clock  in  tlie  afternoon,  and,  even  when  we  enjoy  the  most  delightful  sun- 
shine, we  know  that  in  an  hour  or  two  we  shall  be  involved  in  darkness  that 
may  almost  \>Qfelt.  So  slowly  does  the  damp  approach,  that  it  is  often  some 
hours  before  it  reaches  us  after  we  see  it  a  coming.  In  general,  however,  the 
inhabitants  are  remarkably  healthy."  About,  and  shortly  after,  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  the  ague,  especially  in  the  spring,  was  so  general  that 
many  farmers  found  it  difficult  to  sow  aiid  harrow  their  lands  in  the  proper 
season,  owing  to  their  servants  being  so  much  afflicted  with  it.  When  the 
account  was  written,  1791-2,  the  disease  was  little  known  in  the  parish  or 
neighbourhood,  perhaps  owing  to  the  drainage  of  the  grounds,  and  the  great 
change  which  had  taken  place  in  the  mode  of  living,  dress,  &c. 

Garden  or  Gardyne  is  a  very  old  name  in  Angus.  The  first  of  whom  we 
have  knowledge  is  William  Gardeyn,  designed  of  this  county,  who  did  homage 
to  Edward  I.  at  Berwick,  but  nothing  further  is  known  of  this  person.  The 
next  time  we  meet  with  the  name  is  in  the  year  1357.  The  family  of  Garden 
of  that  ilk  is  now  usually  written  Gardyne.  From  them  Thomas  Macpherson 
Bruce  Gardyne  of  Middleton  is  descended.  His  is  therefore  one  of  the  oldest 
families  in  the  county.  We  have  not  learned  when  they  first  acquired  the 
lands  of  Garden,  from  which  they  assumed  their  surname,  but  it  must  have 
been  a  considerable  time  before  the  year  1357,  as  on  17th  June  that  year 
John  Garden  of  that  ilk  received  from  William,  Earl  of  Eoss,  son  and  heir  of 
the  late  Hugh,  Earl  of  Ross,  a  charter  of  the  Dentown  of  Garthen,  with  perti- 
nents, in  the  Sheriffdom  of  Forfar.  In  the  charter  he  is  designed  delecto 
Armecjero  nostro  Joanne  de  Garthem  domino  ejusdem,  and  it  is  said  to  be  for 
faithful  service  lately  given.  It  is  dated  at  Delguy,  and  witnessed  by  Alex- 
ander, Bishop  of  Ross  ;  Donald,  Abbot  of  New  Fernia ;  Hugh  and  John  of 
Ross,  brothers  of  the  Earl ;  John  of  Hay,  Adam  of  Urquhart,  and  others. 

A  note  added  to  a  copy  of  the  charter  says  : — "  This  charter  seems  to  com- 
prehend at  least  the  mains  and  mill  lands  of  Garden  lying  on  the  Den,  if  not 
all  that  part  of  the  barony  on  the  west  side  of  the  burn  ;  as  what  passes  now 
under  the  name  of  Dentown  is  only  the  mill.  Joannes  de  Garthen,  who  is 
named  expressly — Dominus  ejusdem — might  have  been  possessed  of  Middleton, 
Legatstown  or  Eastertown,  Friock,  and  perhaps  some  parts  of  Boysick's  lands, 
of  old  called  Braidfoot  Garden.  What  strengthens  that  conjecture  is  that  the 
blench  duty  of  that  part  of  Garden  on  the  west  side  of  the  burn  is  still  a  pair 
of  gloves." 


70  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

John  Garden  of  that  ilk  must  have  been  a  man  well  known  and  of  consider- 
able importance  from  his  lands,  then  the  only  thing  that  gave  a  man  a  standing 
in  the  country,  when  he  was  the  acknowledged  and  honoured  friend  of  so  great 
a  personage  as  the  Earl  of  Ross.  We  may  therefore  fairly  assume  that  the 
Gardens  were  proprietors  of  Garden  six  centuries  ago. 

On  21st  February,  1409,  Alexander  of  Garden,  the  surname  being  assumed 
from  the  lands,  is  a  witness  to  a  charter  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  p.  10,  507).  He 
witnesses  charters  of  Regent  Albany,  1406-1423-4  (In.  to  Ch.,  xlv.)  On  8th 
July,  1434,  Patrick  de  Gardyne,  lord  of  the  same,  Thomas  of  Gardyne,  and 
Alexander  of  Gardyne  are  witnesses  to  a  charter  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  p.  513).  On  23d 
March,  1435-6,  Alexander  Garden,  and  on  21st  July,  1450,  Patrick  Gardyne 
of  that  ilk,  are  mentioned  (Reg.  Ep.  Br.).  On  1454  Patrick  Gardyne  of  that 
ilk  is  a  witness  to  a  charter  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  p.  18).  In  1468  Patrick  Gardyne 
de  eodem  (of  the  same,  of  that  ilk)  is  mentioned  in  a  charter  by  Abbot  Malcolm 
Brydy  of  Arbroath  of  some  lands  to  Alexander,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Ihomas 
Maule  of  Panmure  (Reg.  de  Pan.  244). 

On  31st  August,  1558,  Patrick  Gardyne,  heir  of  Gardyne,  is  witness  to  a 
charter  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  p.  531).  Patrick  Gardyne  of  the  same  is  mentioned 
on  28th  May,  1559,  in  the  Reg.  Ep.  Br.  It  was  probably  this  Patrick  Gar- 
dyne who  was  slain  by  William  Guthrie  in  1578,  in  retaliation  for  which 
crime  the  Gardynes,  ten  years  thereafter,  slew  the  chief  of  the  Guthries.  The 
feud  and  slaughterings  appear  to  have  been  kept  up  for  two  or  three  genera- 
tions between  the  Gardynes  and  Guthries,  and  the  cadets  of  both  houses  took 
part  in  the  strife  as  well  as  the  chiefs. 

For  a  considerable  period  about  this  time,  and  subsequently,  the  name  of 
Gardyne  is  oftenest  found  in  connection  with  these  feuds  between  the  two 
neighbouring  families  of  Gardyne  of  that  ilk  and  Guthrie  of  that  ilk,  and  in 
criminal  trials  proceeding  out  of  the  strife.  These  proceedings  show  the  in- 
secure state  of  society  in  feudal  times,  and  the  weak  state  of  the  law,  or  its  lax 
administration,  when  it  appears  to  have  been  powerless  to  suppress  crime 
among  the  lords  of  the  soil,  or  to  punish  the  criminals  in  these  barbarous  times. 

The  long  continued  strife  between  the  two  families  weakened  both,  and 
within  a  short  period  thereafter  both  famiUes  became  so  reduced  that  they  had 
to  dispose  of  their  lands,  and  both  families  sank  rapidly  in  the  social  scale,  and 
were  dispersed. 

The  tradition  in  the  family  of  Gardyne  is  that  the  lands  and  barony  of  Gar- 
dyne had  been  Wadset,  or  bonded  to  raise  money  for  the  Government  in 


Chap.  XXXI.*]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRKDEN.  71 

defence  of  the  country.  This  may  have  been  the  cause  of  the  family  getting 
into  financial  difficulties,  and  being  obliged  to  part  with  the  property,  but  the 
feads  aud  expensive  criminal  proceedings  are  more  likely  to  have  been  the  true 
cause  of  the  downfall  of  the  family. 

The  barony  of  Gardyne  was  broken  up  at  different  times,  portions  of  it 
having  been  given  off  as  the  necessities  of  the  baron  became  urgent,  until  the 
whole  finally  passed  from  the  Gardynes,  and  it  is  now  possessed  by  several 
proprietors. 

The  lairds  of  Gardyne  are  supposed  to  have  held  off  the  Earls  of  Crawford 
as  superiors.  This  supposition  received  some  confirmation  from  Patrick 
Gardyne  of  that  ilk  acting  as  one  of  the  Council  to  the  Earl  in  the  latter  half 
of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  witnessing  some  of  the  Crawford  Charters.  The 
lands  are  now  held  directly  of  the  Crown. 

At  an  early  period  the  family  of  Gardyne  possessed  other  lands  in  the  county 
besides  those  of  Gardyne.  Alexander  Gardyne  acquired  Borrowfield,  in  the 
parish  of  Montrose,  in  1408.  He  was  very  probably  a  cadet  of  the  Gardynes 
of  that  ilk.  Some  notice  of  this  family  will  be  found  in  the  proprietary  history 
of  that  property  in  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Montrose. 

During  the  16th  century  the  family  of  Gardyne  disposed  of  some  of  their 
lands,  and  exchanged  part  of  it  for  others.  While  this  was  being  done  the 
younger  branches  of  the  family  were  establishing  homes  for  themselves  around 
the  paternal  abode.  David  Garden  acquired  the  lands  of  Cononsyth.  Bis  son, 
also  David,  acquired  Leys.  On  5th  October,  15-12,  precept  of  clare  constat  was 
granted  by  the  clergy  of  Aberbrothock  for  infefting  him  in  half  of  the  lands 
of  Tulloch  and  Craiquhy,  with  pertinents,  excepting  the  mill  of  Craichie  and 
mill  lands.  Alexander  Garden  possessed  New  Grange.  James  Garden  of 
Milton  of  Tulloes  gave  said  Alexander  charter  of  the  town  and  lands  of 
Milton  of  Tulloes  on  7th  October,  1599.  Some  other  changes  of  these  lands 
took  place  between  members  of  the  family  during  the  following  twenty  years. 

In  1582  James  Garden  acquired  the  lands  of  Dumbarrow  and  others  in  the 
barony  of  Dunnichen  from  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath.  He  also,  on  10th  Sep- 
tember, 1603,  acquired  the  lands  of  Pressock,  in  same  barony,  from  William 
Eaitt  of  Halgreen,  in  the  Mearns. 

In  February,  1673,  Patrick  Garden  of  Garden  granted  a  charter  to  John 
Gray  of  Lower  for  infefting  him  in  an  annual  furth  of  the  lands  of  Legatston, 
in  implement  of  marriage  contract  between  his  daughter,  Elizabeth  Garden, 
and  Andrew,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  said  John  Gray  ;  sasine  followed. 


72  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

On  25tli  February,  1597,  contract  of  Alienation  and  Excambion  of  tlie 
lands  and  barony  of  Garden,  Lawton,  and  others,  betwixt  Sir  Walter  Rollock 
of  Lawton,  knight,  and  bis  spouse  on  the  one  part;  and  David  Garden,  his 
spouse,  and  others  on  the  other  part.  David  gave  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Garden,  comprising  the  lands  of  Middleton,  Legatston,  Pressock,  Dentown 
Mill,  and  Friock,  to  be  holden  of  His  Majesty  ;  Sir  Walter  to  give  a  certain 
sum  of  money,  and  all  his  lands  of  Lawton,  with  pertinents,  including  the 
Pendicle  of  Falhills,  and  Ballinluston,  in  the  barony  of  Kinbrachmonthe.  There 
was  no  longer  a  Gardyne  of  that  ilk  after  that  exchange.  Sir  Walter  Rollock, 
of  the  family  of  Duncrub,  and  Lady  Jean  Stewart,  his  wife,  bad  charter  of 
Gardyne  on  19th  September,  1601  (Doug.  IL,  p.  397j. 

The  following  details  of  the  succession  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Gardyne 
are  said  to  be  from  the  old  charters  in  possession  of  Mr  Lyell  of  Gardyne — 1, 
In  1602,  Andrew,  son  of  Sir  Walter  Rollock,  conveyed  the  whole  lands  and 
barony  of  Gardyne  to  Sir  Robert  Crichton  of  Cluny,  who  held  them  two  years ; 
2,  Sir  Robert  conveyed  the  same  subjects  to  James  Curie  in  1607 ;  3,  James 
Curie  conveyed  them  to  Jean  Conolly  in  1610 ;  4,  Jean  Conolly  or  Cannelie, 
wife  of  Thomas  Crichton  of  Bottomcraig,  in  Balmerino,  passed  them  over  to 
Margaret  Conolly  in  1620  (Bal.  Abbey,  300)  ;  5,  Margaret  Conolly  and  Sir 
John  Scott  of  Newburgh  conveyed  them  to  William  Ruthven  in  1623  ;  6, 
William  Ruthven,  son  of  the  former,  conveyed  them  to  James  Lyell,  merchant, 
London,  in  1682.  These  details  differ  materially  from  the  succession  in  Doug. 
II.,  p.  397,  from  Ochterlony,  and  from  the  retours  during  the  seventeenth 
century,  which  we  now  give. 

It  appears  that  the  Ruthvens  as  well  as  the  Rollocks  h^d  an  interest  in  the 
lands  and  barony  of  Gardyne,  acquired  from  Da\dd  Garden.  Among  the 
writs  at  Middleton  is  a  Decreet  Arbitral  by  Sir  Robert  Crichton,  betwixt 
William  Ruthven  of  Bunden,  and  Alexander  Rollock,  son  and  heir  of  Sir 
Walter  Rollock  of  Garden,  knight,  with  respect  to  the  lands  of  Garden  and 
others,  dated  30th  June,  1603,  and  registered  in  the  Books  of  Session  20th 
March,  1604. 

By  the  following  retours  it  appears  that  the  Rollos  and  Ruthvens  had  each 
a  proprietary  interest  in  the  barony,  as  they  were  severally  retoured  in  it,  or  in 
part  of  it,  at  different  times. 

Among  the  writs  at  Middleton  is  a  contract  of  wadset,  between  Sir  Robert 
Crichton  of  Clunie,  knight,  and  Robert  Garden,  by  which  Sir  Kobert  wadset 
several  of  the  lands  of  Gardyne.      He  wanted  to  sell  the  lands.      Letters  of 


Chap.  XXXI.*]      ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KIRKDEN.  73 

inhibition  against  the  sale  and  other  proceedings  followed,  which  makes  it 
difficult  to  follow  out  the  history  of  the  lands  without  going  into  details,  which 
we  cannot  afford  room  for. 

On  14th  January,  1G04,  Andrew  Rollo,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Walter  Rollock 
or  Rollo,  and  Lady  Jean  Stewart,  his  spouse,  heir  male  of  Sir  AYalter  Rollo 
of  Gardyne,  knight,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  38)  in  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Gardyne,  comprehending  the  Dominical  lands  or  Mains  of  Gardyne, 
mill  of  same  called  Denton  Mill,  Smithyhill  of  Gardyne,  lands  of  Middleton, 
Eastertown  and  Legatston  ;  lands  and  town  of  Pressock,  Easter  and  Wester  ; 
lands  of  Friock,  with  mill ;  and  common  pasture  in  the  Moor  of  Montreath- 
mont. 

John  Carnegie  of  Easter  Fithie  appears  to  have  acquired  part  of  the  lands 
of  Middleton.  On  25th  April,  1612,  Helen  Carnegie  and  Margaret  Carnegie, 
heirs  portioners  of  John  Carnegie  of  Easter  Fithie,  their  father,  were  retoured 
(No.  597  and  598),  in  the  fourth  part  of  the  land  of  Middleton  of  Gardyne, 
in  the  barony  of  Gardyne — A.E.  10s,  N.E.  40s. 

On  2d  May,  1620,  Lady  Margaret  Canneolie,  spouse  of  Lord  John  Scott 
of  Newburgh,  knight,  heiress  of  Jean  Canneolie,  relict  of  the  deceased 
Thomas  Crichton  of  Bodumcraig,  was  retoured  (No.  126)  in  the  lands  of 
Mains  of  Gardyne,  and  Mill  of  Gardyne,  called  Denton  Mill ;  the  lands  of 
Middleton  and  Legatston  ;  the  lands  of  Pressock  and  Friock ;  with  the 
common  pasture  of  the  Moor  of  Montreathmont,  all  united  in  the  barony  of 
Gardyne— A.E.  £7,  N.E.  £28. 

On  20th  December,  1633,  Sir  Andrew  Piollo  of  Duncrub  was  served  heir  to 
his  uncle,  G  eorge  Rollo,  in  the  lands  of  Gardyne. 

On  2d  April,  1663,  Elizabeth  Panton  and  Anna  Young,  daughters  of 
Robert  Young,  in  Carnoustie,  heirs  portioners  of  David  Panton  of  Friock, 
were  retoured  (No.  398)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Friock,  in  the  barony  of 
Gardyne. 

On  23d  February,  1669,  James  Ogilvy  of  Fornochtie,  heir  of  George  Ogilvy 
of  Friock,  son  of  James,  Lord  Ogilvy  of  Airlie,  was  retoured  (No.  437)  in  the 
lands  of  Friock,  with  the  mill,  in  the  barony  of  Gardyne,  with  the  common 
pasture  in  the  Moor  of  Montreathmont. 

On  13th  May,  1680,  William  Ruthven  of  Gardyne,  heir  male  of  William 
Ruthven  of  Gardyne,  his  grandfather,  was  retoured  (No.  478)  in  the  lands 
and  barony  of  Gardyne,  comprehending  the  Dominical  lands  or  Mains ;  the 
mill,  called  Denton  Mill ;  the  lands  of  Middleton  and  Eastertown  or  Legas- 

K 


74  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

ton  ;  lands  of  Pressock  and  Friock,  with  common  pasture  of  Montreatlimont 
Moor,  united  in  the  barony  of  Gardyne — A  E.  £20.  The  Ruthvens  may  have 
acquired  their  interest  from  the  Eollos. 

Ochtcrlony  (1684)  says  the  laird  of  Gardyne  of  that  ilk  had  the  most  part 
of  the  barony  of  Gardyne,  except  the  house  and  mains,  which  belong  to  a 
gentleman  of  the  name  of  Eutliven.  He  was  descended  from  the  first  Lord 
Euthven  by  his  second  wife,  Christian  Forbes,  and  he  was  the  son  of  William 
Ruthven  of  Bandone,  who  was  by  Charles  I.  created  Lord  Euthven  of  Ettrick 
and  Earl  of  Forth  in  Scotland,  and  Earl  of  Brentford  in  England. 

The  estate  of  Gardyne,  as  we  have  mentioned  above,  was  acquired  before 
the  middle  of  the  ninth  decade  of  the  seventeenth  century  by  James  Lyell, 
merchant  in  London,  ancestor  of  the  present  proprietor  of  Gardyne.  Some 
time  before  he  purchased  the  property  he  had  a  bond  over  the  lands  of  Gar- 
dyne, Middleton,  Cotton  of  Gardyne,  Friock,  and  Legatston,  the  whole  of 
which  were  in  possession  of  the  family  until  near  the  middle  of  last  century, 
when  they  sold  part,  as  will  be  shown  below.  Q  he  family  of  Lyell  still  own 
the  mansion  house  or  castle  of  Gardyne,  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  lands, 
including  Pressock,  Mains,  Denton  Mill,  and  others. 

Some  account  of  the  Lyells  of  Dysart,  from  whom  the  Lyells  of  Gardyne 
are  descended,  will  be  given  in  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Maryton.  Walter 
Lyell  of  Dysart,  by  his  second  marriage,  with  a  daughter  of  Fiulayson  of 
Gagie  and  Provost  of  Dundee,  had  a  son,  Thomas  Lyell  of  Dysart,  and  Town 
Clerk  of  Montrose,  from  whom  the  present  laird  of  Gardyne  is  descended, 
and  he  is  the  representative  of  the  Lyells  of  Dysart.  Thomas  Lyell  died  in 
1G98,  leaving  by  a  niece  of  the  Earl  of  Crawford  a  son,  William  Lyell,  who 
was  served  heir  to  Dysart  on  21st  June  of  that  year  (Eet.  548).  He  had 
three  sons,  the  second  of  whom  was  the  founder  of  the  Lyells  of  Gardyue.  A 
successor  of  the  founder,  Thomas  Lyell  of  Gardyne,  and  merchant  in  Mon- 
trose, married  Marjory,  daughter  of  Patrick  Penny  of  Usan.  He  took  down 
a  portion  of  the  Castle  of  Gardyne,  and  rebuilt  it  in  1798.  By  his  wife  he 
had  seven  sons,  two  of  whom  survived  him,  Stewart  Lyell  of  Kinneff,  father 
of  the  late  minister  of  Careston,  and  Alexander,  born  in  1784,  who  succeeded 
to  Gardyne.  He  married  Elizabeth  Gibb,  daughter  of  James  Gibb,  of 
Arbroath,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  and  a  daughter  who  died  young  ;  Dr 
Robert,  who  fell  at  Patna  during  the  insurrection  in  India,  3d  July,  1857, 
aged  31 ;  and  Alexander,  who  succeeded  to  Gardyne.  He  died  in  November, 
1852,  aged  68.      Alexander  Lyell,  the  present  laird,  was  born  in  1819.      In 


Chap.  XXXI.*]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- KIRKDEN.  75 

1852  he  miirried  Helen  Maria,  claugliter  of  Eobert  Adamson  of  Middle  Drum, 
by  whom  he  has  Alexander,  born  1853,  apparent  of  Gardyne,  and  other  issue. 
He  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  to  the  improvement 
of  his  property.     He  is  a  J. P.  of  the  County  of  Forfar. 

The  Castle  ot  Gardyne  is  romantically  situated  on  the  brink  of  the  left  or 
west  bank  of  the  Denton  Burn,  a  tributary  of  the  Vinney,  which  flows  through 
a  deep,  well-wooded,  and  picturesque  den.  It  has  been  built  at  two  distinct 
and  long  distant  periods.  The  older  and  eastern  portion,  the  gable  of  which, 
on  the  edge  of  the  den,  is  surmounted  by  a  massive  turret  with  bartizan 
and  circular  spire  on  each  of  the  two  angles.  On  the  front  of  the  old 
section  of  the  castle  a  slab  is  built  into  the  wall  bearing  the  arras  of  Gardyne 
of  Leys,  a  boar's  head  erased,  with  motto  SPERAVI  IN  TE  DOMINE,  over 
which  is  the  date  1560.  This  part  of  the  building  is  a  good  specimen  of  the 
castellated  architecture  of  the  period  when  it  was  built.  There  had  been  little 
attention  paid  to  the  squaring  of  the  stones,  and  the  windows  are  small.  On 
the  ground  floor  there  are  no  windows,  only  narrow  openings  about  two  feet  in 
height  by  four  inches  in  width,  with  an  inward  splay. 

The  modern  portion  adjoins  the  older  on  the  west,  the  two  forming  one 
building.  Both  the  parts  are  three  floors  in  height,  and  the  principal  entrance 
is  in  the  new  section.  Over  this  door  is  the  crest  of  Lyell  of  Dysart,  a  dexter 
hand  holding  a  sword  erect,  proper,  and  motto  TUTSLA.  The  castle  is  not 
of  great  extent,  and  the  building  appears  narrow  when  compared  with  its 
length.  In  front  of  the  castle  there  is  a  pretty  J  awn  ;  and  the  garden,  on  the 
sloping  bank  to  the  east,  extends  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  of  the  den.  The 
old  baronial  moot  or  gallowshill,  an  eminence  covered  with  trees,  is  a  pro- 
minent object  in  the  landscape,  and  the  scenery  here  is  very  fine. 

Idvies  was  a  Thanedom  at  least  as  early  as  1219.  Gyles  of  Edevy,  and 
Malcolm,  brother  of  the  "  Thaynus  de  Edevy,"  were  present  at  a  perambulation 
of  the  marches  of  the  lands  of  the  Monastery  of  Arbroath  and  the  barony  of 
Kinblethmont  on  23d  September,  1219,  the  former  as  a  witness,  and  the 
latter  as  a  perambulater  (Keg.  de  Aberb.,  p.  1G2-3).  Malcolmus  de  Edivin, 
doubtless  the  brother  of  the  Thane  in  1219,  is  mentioned  as  a  witness  in  favour 
of  William,  Bishop  of  !St  Andrews,  in  the  cause  between  tlie  Bishop  and 
Duncan  Arbuthnott,  in  which  the  Synod  of  Perth  pronounced  decree  in  favour 
of  the  Bishop,  on  3d  April,  120G,  finding  him  entitled  to  the  lands  of  Eirkton 
of  Arbuthnott  (Spal.  Club  Mis.,  Vol.  v.,  p.  210). 


76  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

In  1254  Malys  de  Eclivyn  was  one  of  the  witnesses  at  a  perambulation  of 
marches  between  the  lands  of  Conon  and  TuUach  (Tulloes),  belonging  to  the 
Abbey  of  Arbroath,  and  Sir  Peter  de  Maule,  and  Christina,  his  spouse  (Eeg. 
de  Aberb.,  p.  325).  Between  1254  and  1388  the  lands  of  Idvies  were 
acquired  by  the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews.  By  an  Ordinance,  dated  14th  July, 
1388,  Walter,  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  with  consent  of  the  chapter,  granted 
certain  lands  at  the  Water  of  Vuany  (Vinney)  to  the  "Elector  of  the  Church  of 
Edvy  in  excambion  for  certain  lands  previously  belonging  to  that  Church,  to 
be  permanently  added  to  the  Bishop's  lands  of  Edvy  and  Bractullauch  (Reg. 
Prioratus  St  And.,  p.  409). 

In  1410  David  of  Idwy  was  Archdeacon  of  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin. 
He  is  a  party  to  a  deed  regarding  the  possession  of  the  ]\Iuir  of  Farnell 
(Reg.  Ep.  Bre.  L,  p.  27).  From  the  above  notices  of  Idvies  it  is  seen 
that  it  was  not  only  a  thanedom,  but  it  was  assumed  as  a  surname  in  early 
times. 

The  lands  of  Idvies  remained  with  the  Bishops  and  Archbishops  of  St 
Andrews  imtil  1544.  By  feu  charter,  dated  22d  October,  1544,  Cardinal 
David  Beaton  granted  for  a  feu- duty,  exceeding  by  35s  4d  Scots  what  the 
lands  had  ever  previously  paid,  a  precept  for  infefting  Patrick,  Lord  Gray,  in 
the  estate  of  Idvy,  then  consisting  of  the  lands  of  Idvy,  Auchscurry,  Kinneries, 
Bractullach,  and  Gask,  all  in  the  barony  of  Eescobie,  and  regality  of  St 
Andrews,  one  sasine  at  the  principal  messuage  of  the  lands  of  Idvy  to  be 
sufficient  for  all  the  lands. 

On  10th  June,  1549,  Patrick,  Lord  Gray,  disponed  said  lands  to  Robert 
Carnegie  of  Kinnaird  and  Margaret  Guthrie,  parents  of  David,  first  Earl  of 
Sonthesk,  to  be  held  in  fee  of  the  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews  for  payment  of 
£6(5  13s  4d  Scots  per  annum,  which  was  confirmed  by  the  Archbishop  of  St 
Andrews  on  25th  July,  1549. 

On  11th  December,  1549,  the  said  Robert  Carnegie  received  from  James 
Wood  of  Bonnyton  a  disposition  of  the  lands  of  Balnamoon  in  excambion  for 
the  lands  of  Idvy  (Vol.  III.,  p.  248)  and  others,  which  were  conveyed  by  said 
Robert  Carnegie  to  said  James  Wood.  Idvies  remained  for  a  long  time  in  the 
hands  of  the  Woods.  On  7th  July,  1653,  Harry  Wood,  heir  of  Sir  Harry 
Wood  of  Bonnyton,  his  goodsir,  was  retoured  (No.  321),  in  the  lands  of 
Idvies,  E.  £66  13s  4d  of  feu  farm. 

On  7th  February,  1688,  Henry  Crawford  of  Monorgan,  son  of  Henry  Craw- 
ford of  Easter  Seaton  was  retoured  (No.  510),  in  an  annual  rent  granted  by 


Chap.  XXXI.*]     ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KIRKDEN.  77 

the  Woods  of  £162,  payable  out  of  the  lands  of  Easter,  Wester,  and  Middle 
Idvies,  lands  of  Gask,  Ascurry  and  mill,  in  the  parish  of  Kirkden. 

By  disposition,  dated  20th  April,  1733,  &c.,  Sir  James  Wood  of  Bonnyton, 
baronet,  disponed  the  estate  of  Idvies  to  Dr  John  Wedderburn,  physician  in 
Dundee. 

On  22d  March,  1749,  Dr  Wedderburn  disponed  Idvies  to  Margaret  Balfour, 
his  wife,  in  liferent,  and  to  his  grand-nephew,  John,  sou  of  Sir  John  Wedder- 
burn, third  baronet  of  Blackness,  who,  at  the  death  of  his  father,  succeeded  as 
fourth  baronet  of  Blackness.  Dr  Wedderburn  died  in  1761  without  issue. 
John  Wedderburn  was  infeft  in  Idvies  in  August,  1763.  He  became  Sir 
John  Wedderburn  of  Ballindean,  baronet.  By  disposition,  dated  2d  February, 
1790,  he  disponed  the  estate  to  George,  Lord  Kinnaird,  who  by  a  disposition, 
dated  17th  November,  1804,  passed  it  to  his  eldest  son,  Charles,  Lord 
Kinnaird.  He,  on  29th  July,  1808,  disponed  Idvies  to  John  Baxter,  banker 
in  Dundee,  from  whom  it  descended  to  his  son,  Henry  Biixter  of  Idvies, 
advocate ;  and  the  marriage  trustees  of  said  Henry  Baxter's  two  daughters 
disponed  the  estate  in  1865  to  John  Clerk  Brodie. 

Mr  Brodie  also  purchased,  in  1875,  from  Alexander  Lyell  of  Gardyne, 
the  adjoining  estate  of  Pressock,  and  lands  of  Fallady  and  March,  which,  as 
well  as  the  estate  of  Idvies,  he  has  much  improved  by  planting,  fencing,  and 
draining.     The  united  properties  form  a  compact  and  fine  estate. 

John  Clerk  Brodie  of  Idvies  is  the  youngest  son  of  Thomas  Brodie,  W.S., 
who  died  in  1825,  and  youngest  brother  of  the  late  James  Campbell  Brodie  of 
Lethen,  in  the  counties  of  Nairn  and  Moray,  which  estate  was  acquired  in 
1630  by  his  direct  male  ancestor,  Alexander  Brodie,  second  son  of  David 
Brodie  of  Brodie,  who  died  in  1G26,  and  whose  ancestors  and  descendants  in 
the  direct  male  line  have  held  the  estate  of  Brodie  of  the  Crown  for  upwards 
of  600  years.  Mr  John  Clerk  Brodie  was  born  in  1811,  and  married,  first, 
Bathia,  eldest  daughter  of  Stewart  Souter  of  Melrose,  Banffshire  ;  secondly,  in 
1848,  Penelope,  daughter  of  the  Eev.  John  Skeyed  of  Ashcombe  and  Basford, 
Staffordshire,  and  has  Thomas,  born  1832,  and  other  issue.  Thomas  married 
tirst,  in  1861,  Charlotte  Frederica,  daughter  of  Thomas  Jolm  Furnell  of 
Heathmont,  County  Clare.  She  died  in  1870.  Secondly,  in  1876,  Anne,  eldest 
daughter  and  co-heir  of  William  Dawson  of  Gairdoch  and  Powfowlis,  Stirling- 
shire. The  laird  of  Idvies  was  educated  at  Westminster  School  and  Edin- 
burgh University.  He  is  a  J.P.  and  D.L.  for  Forfarshire,  Deputy  Keeper  of 
the  Signet,  and  Keeper  of  the  General  Piegister  of  Sasines  for  Scotland.      He 


78  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

was  at  one  time  Crown  Agent  of  Scotland.  Mr  Broclie  bears  his  paternal 
arms  of  Broclie,  with  part  of  the  arms  of  Campbell  of  Calder  (now  Earls  of 
Cawdor),  from  which  f;imily  he  is  descended  by  his  great-grandmother,  Sophia 
Campbell,  daughter  of  Sir  Hugh  Campbell  of  Calder,  These  arms  were  con- 
firmed bv  Alexander  Brodie  of  Brodie,  then  Lord  Lyon  of  Scotland,  to 
Alexander  Brodie  of  Lethen,  Mr  Brodie's  paternal  granduncle,  and  to  his  heirs, 
by  grant  recorded  ia  the  Lyon  Office,  dated  12th  January,  1753,  and  are — 
Arms — Argent,  on  a  chevron  gules,  between  tlu-ee  mullets  azure,  a  galley  or  Lymphad 

sable. 
Crest — A  dexter  hand  holding  a  bunch  of  five  arrows  proper. 
Motto — Above  the  crest — "Be  nimdfulto  unite." 

The  mansion  house  of  Idvies  stands  at  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  the 
village  of  Letham  and  the  Church  of  Kirkden.  It  was  built  by  the  Baxters, 
father  and  son,  and  in  their  time  w.is  a  comfortable  house,  but  since  Mr  Brodie 
acquired  the  property  he  has  made  large  alterations  upon,  and  additions  to,  the 
house,  gardens,  and  offices,  besides  forming  new  and  more  convenient  carriage 
drives  to  the  mansion  and  about  the  policies,  &c.,  which  have  greatly  improved 
the  amenity,  and  increased  the  beauty  of  the  grounds,  and  added  materially  to 
the  value  of  the  estate. 

The  lands  of  Kinnerics  were  included  in  the  thanage  of  Idvies,  and  for  some 
time  Idvies  and  Kinneries  were  in  possession  of  the  same  proprietor.  About 
the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century  a  branch  of  the  Annands  of  Melgund  was 
in  possession  of  Kinquhery  (Kinearies,  now  Kinneries).  (Lieg.  Ep.  Br.,  141.) 
They  were  in  possession  in  1506  (iteg.  de  Pan.,  272).  These  lands  were  again 
united  with  Idvies  when  in  possession  of  Bobert  Carnegie,  grandfather  of  the 
first  Earl  of  Southesk.  He  exchanged  Idvies,  Kinneries,  &c.,  in  1549,  with 
James  Wood  of  Bonnyton  for  Balnamoon.  At  an  after  period  they  were  again 
separated  from  Idvies,  but  we  are  not  sure  when.  It  must  have  been  before 
1822,  as  the  name  of  John  Watt  of  Kinneries  is  in  the  Valuation  Boll  of  that 
year,  and  he  was  an  heritor  when  the  Parish  Church  was  rebuilt  in  1825,  his 
name  being  inscribed  in  the  porch  of  the  church.  The  property  was  subse- 
quently acquired  by  Alexander  Mill,  Cherrybank,  Forfar,  and  he  continues  to 
be  the  laird  of  Kinneries. 

In  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Inverkeilor  we  gave  some  account  of  the 
Gardynes  of  Lawton  (Vol.  III.,  p.  455).  Here  we  will  only  give  an  outline 
of  the  descent  of  the  present  proprietor  of  the  remains  of  the  old  family  estate 


Chap.  XXXI.*]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRKDEN.  79 

as  showing  his  descent  from  the  Gardynes  of  that  ilk.  David  Gardyne  of  the  old 
stock  purchased  Lawton.  In  1603  he  married  Janet  Lindsay  of  Edzell,  and  by 
her  he  had  a  son,  John  Gardyne.  By  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Arbuth- 
nott  of  that  ilk  (married  1643),  he  had  four  sons  and  twenty  daughters.  John 
Gardyne,  their  son,  third  of  Lawton,  married  in  1670,  Grisel,  daughter  of 
Alexander  Watson  of  Barry.  Their  son  David,  in  1706,  married  Anne,  daughter 
of  Graham  of  Fintry.  Their  second  son,  James  Gardyne  Middleton,  acquired 
Friock,  Legatston,  &c.,  married,  in  1741,  Mary,  daughter  of  Provost  Wallace 
of  Arbroath,  By  her  he  had  five  sons,  the  last  of  whom,  Thomas  Gardyne  of 
Middleton,  died  unmarried  at  an  advanced  age  in  1841.  He  was  the  last  of 
the  male  line  of  Gardyne,  and  the  last  landed  proprietor  of  the  name  of  Gar- 
dyne. His  sister  Anne  was  married  to  James  Bruce.  They  had  a  son,  William 
Bruce,  born  1777.  His  nephew,  William  Bruce,  assumed  the  name  of  Gar- 
dyne in  addition  to  Bruce,  in  accordance  with  his  uncle's  settlements.  He 
married,  in  18:^5,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Lieut. -Colonel  Macpherson  of  Canada. 
By  her  he  had  a  son,  Thomas  Macpherson  Bruce  Gardyne,  born  17th  April, 
1832.  On  the  death  of  his  father  on  15th  June,  1846,  he  succeeded  to  the 
estate  of  Middleton.  He  was  educated  at  St  Andrews,  was  Lieut.  40th  liegi- 
ment,  and  is  a  J.P.  of  the  County  of  Forfar. 

The  mansion  house  of  Middleton  was  erected  at  two  different  times.  The 
older  portion  is  to  the  north,  and  the  newer  and  finer  section  adjoins  it  on  the 
south.  The  connection  is  neatly  formed,  and  the  western  facade  is  pleasing. 
The  central  portion  is  of  three  floors,  the  extreme  north  of  two,  and  the 
southern  part  of  two  lufty  floors  with  fine  oriel  windows.  The  principal 
apartments  are  in  the  new  section,  aad  they  are  large  and  handsome. 

In  the  central  portion  of  the  house,  over  the  window  of  the  first  floor,  is  a 
shield  with  a  boar's  head  erased  and  impaled.  A  sheaf  under  a  chief  bearing 
a  cinque  foil  between  two  spurs  and  rowels.  Crest — a  rose,  with  the  motto, 
FLO  PvEAT. 

Above  the  window  of  the  second  floor  is  a  shield  with  a  boar's  head  erased, 
and  two  hands  hold  a  cross  crosslet. 

The  mansion  stands  in  a  spacious  park,  in  which  are  many  trees  of  great 
age  and  large  size.  A  little  to  the  south-west  of  the  house  is  a  pretty  lakelet 
with  healthy  shrubbery  around.  The  swans  which  float  upon  the  water 
are  graceful  creatures  and  persistent  beggars.  To  the  east  of  the  house  is  a 
good  garden,  near  to  which  is  an  excellent  farm  steading.  A  slab  built  into 
the  wall  there  bears  the  Gardyne  arms  and  motto — My  hoip  is  only  in  the 


80  ANGUS  OE  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Lord— with  the  initials  D.  G.,  and  the  date  1692.  In  the  north-east  corner 
of  the  pohcies  is  a  marshy  spot,  with  a  small  lake  in  the  centre,  which  give 
variety  to  the  grounds. 

ABMS  OF  THOMAS  MA.CPHERSON  BRUCE  GARDYNE  OE  MIDDLETON. 

Ai-ms— 1st  and  4th  argent,  a  boar's  head  erased  sable  armed  and  langued  gules.  2d,  or  a 
chief  and  saltire  gules,  on  a  canton  argent  a  lion  rampant  sable.  3d,  argent  an  oak 
tree  proper,  on  a  chief  azure  a  cinque  foil  between  two  rowels  of  the  first. 

Crest — Two  hands  ppr.  holding  a  cross  crosslet  or  for  Gardyne.  A  lion  rampant  gules 
for  Bruce. 

Mottoes— Cruciata  Cruce  jungustur.     Fuimus.     In  te  domine  speravi. 

The  lands  of  Middleton  consist  of  the  farms  of  Friock  Mains,  East  and 
West  Cotton  of  Gardyne,  Knockhill,  Legatston,  Pitmuies  Mill,  and  others, 
besides  the  grass  parks  and  other  grounds  around  the  mansion.  The  writs  at 
Middleton  show  the  proprietary  history  of  most  of  these  lands  for  some  cen- 
turies, but  although  we  have  them  in  detail  want  of  room  compels  us  to  ex- 
clude them. 

The  ground  upon  which  the  village  of  Friockheim  is  built  was  part  of  the 
barony  of  G-ardjne,  but  it  was  parted  with  to  the  Eollocks  in  1604.  The 
superiority  of  the  lands  of  Friock  was  acquired  by  Wedderburn  of  Wedder- 
burn,  and  the  lands  came  into  possession  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Ogilvy.  She 
resolved  to  sell  them  by  public  sale,  and  they  were  put  up  to  auction  on  26th 
May,  1792,  and  bought  by  David  Gardyne  for  his  brother  Charles.  Disposition 
was  given  by  her,  with  consent  of  David  Gardyne,  in  favour  of  David  Gardyne, 
dated  7th  January,  1793.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother  Thomas  in  1814. 
Charter  of  confirmation  was  given  by  Peter  Wedderburn  Ogilvy  of  Ruthven  in 
favour  of  Thomas  Macpherson  Bruce  Gardyne,  as  heir  of  tailzie  and  provision 
of  his  father,  William  Bruce  Gardyne,  in  the  lands  of  Friock,  Middleton,  and 
others,  7th  May,  1853.  The  land  was  feued  in  the  early  part  of  this  century. 
John  Andson,  formerly  Anderson  of  Arbroath,  erected  a  flax  spinning  mill 
there  about  seventy  years  ago.  The  village  was  at  first  named  Friockfeus, 
but  by  public  advertisement,  dated  22d  May,  1824,  it  was  changed  from  feus 
to  heim,  with  the  consent  of  T.  Gardyne,  the  superior. 

In  the  Valuation  EoU  of  1683  a  portion  of  what  is  now  Middleton  is  called 
Lady  Balrownie,  val.  £183  6s  8d.  Another  portion  is  called  Lawton  Elder, 
£333  6s  8d;  of  this,  prior  to  1748,  £1.50  was  added  to  Gardyne,  and  £183  6s 
8d  to  Middleton.  Pitmuies  was  then  valued  at  £533  6s  8d,  but  on  2d 
February,  1756,  it  was  divided  into  four  portions. 


Chap.  XXXI.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNETTLES.  81 

Among  the  many  interesting  documents  in  the  charter  chest  of  Mr  T.  IM. 
Bruce  Gardyne  of  Middleton  is  an  original  proclamation  of  which  the  follow  • 
ing  is  a  copy.     So  far  as  we  know  it  has  never  previously  been  printed : — 

John,  Earle  of  Mar,  &c.,  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Matie's  Forces 

in  Scotland. 
Our  Soveraigne  Lord,  James  the  Eighth,  having  been  pleased  to  intrust 
me  with  the  direction  of  his  affairs  and  the  command  of  his  forces  in  Scotland, 
and  it  being  absolutely  necessary  to  raise  money  for  their  support  and  main- 
tainance,  these  are  yrfor  in  His  Matie's  name  requiring  and  commanding  That 
all  men  betwixt  sixty  and  sixteen  years  of  age  within  the  shire  of  Forfar  doe 
furthwith  repair  to  the  camp  at  Pearth,  or  where  it  shall  happen  the  army  to 
be  for  the  time,  with  their  best  deaths,  horses,  and  armed,  and  fourty  dayes 
provisions  or  loan  at  six  shillings  Scots  a  day.  Or  otherwayes  that  every 
heritor,  fouar,  or  wadsetter  now  attending  the  King's  standart,  and  such 
heritors  as  are  or  may  be  excused,  or  their  ffactors  or  doers  in  their  absence, 
and  lykewise  all  liferenters  doe  immediatly  proportion  and  raise  among  the 
tennents  and  possessors  of  their  respective  estates  and  liferent  lands.  The 
sum  of  twenty  shillings  sterling  upon  each  hundred  pounds  Scots  of  valued 
rent,  and  that  such  heritors  who  doe  not  presently  nor  shall  not  betwixt  and 
the  tenth  day  of  October  instant,  attend  the  King's  standart,  if  not  excused 
by  me,  shall  immediately  proportion  and  raise  among  the  tennents  and  pos- 
sessors of  their  respective  estates,  the  sum  sev^^  of  fourty  shillings  sterling  money 
upon  each  hundred  pounds  of  valued  rent,  which  sev^^  proportions  according 
to  the  respective  cases  aforesd  shall  be  payed  by  every  heritor,  fouar,  wadsetter, 
and  liferenter,  to  Alexander  Watson  of  Wallace  Craigie  or  his  depute  coll'^'  ap- 
pointed for  that  end  at  the  burgh  of  Fforfar,  on  or  before  the  tweltli  day  of 
October  instant.  With  certification  that  parties  will  be  sent  to  quarter  upon 
and  poynd  the  heritors  and  tennents  who  refuse  and  delay  to  give  obedience 
hereto.  And  the  heritors  or  their  ffactors  or  doers  are  hereby  required  on 
their  highest  perill  to  give  in  lists  of  those  deficient  in  pay*  that  they  may 
be  proceeded  against  with  all  severity.  And  for  the  effect  that  the  tennents 
and  possessors  lyable  in  payment  of  the  sums  to  be  levied  as  afors'^  may  be 
the  better  enabled  and  incouradged  to  make  punctuall  pay*  of  their  rextive 
proportions  in  either  cases  before  ment"^-  It  is  hereby  directed  that  they 
shall  have  releif  in  maner  following,  viz. — The  tennents  and  possessors  of  the 
lands  belonging  to  heritors  and  oyrs  already  in  His  Matie's  service,  and  who 


82  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

shall  be  in  His  Matie's  service  on  or  before  the  day  befor  ment'^'  shall  have 
allowance  and  retention  out  of  the  current  year's  rent  from  their  rextive 
heritors,  of  the  one  half  of  the  money  to  be  advanced  by  them,  being  ten 
shillings  sterling  upon  each  hundred  pounds  of  valued  rent,  and  shall  have  a 
proportionall  part  of  the  other  half  from  their  coatters  and  servants  of  the 
heritors'  modefica"-  And  the  tennents  and  possessors  of  the  lauds  pertaining 
to  heritors  who  neither  are  nor  shall  ingage  themselves  in  His  Matie's  service 
by  the  time  limited  as  above  shall  have  allowance  and  retention  in  their  own 
hands  out  of  the  current  year's  rent  of  the  sum  of  thirty  shillings  sterling 
money  from  their  sev^  heritors,  and  a  proportion  of  the  oyr  ten  shillings  ster- 
ling from  their  cotters  and  serv*^'-  as  is  aforedirected.  And  that  all  tennents 
and  possessors  of  lands  q*somever  may  be  better  ascertained  of  their  safety 
upon  their  giving  due  obedience  hereto.  It  is  furder  directed  that  neither 
they  nor  their  coatters  nor  serv*^  shall  be  obliged  to  attend  the  army.  But 
that  they  shall  have  ane  ample  protection  for  their  persones  and  goods.  And 
ordains  these  pn*^  to  be  published  at  the  mercat  cross  of  Fforfar,  and  coppies 
to  be  left  at  the  sev^^  dwelling  houses  of  the  respective  heritors  within  the 
shire  of  Fforfar,  or  intimations  to  be  made  at  the  sev'^  Parish  Churches  within 
the  s^  shire  or  other  places  needfull  that  uon  may  pretend  ignorance.  Given 
at  the  Camp  at  Pearth,  the  fourth  day  of  October,  1715  years,  sic  scrbt"^- 

(Signed)  Mar. 

The  original  regimental  order,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  is  also  in 
Middleton  House. 

By  the  Honourable  Lieutenant-General  Gordon,  Commander  of  the  Clans. 
Sib, 
These  are  ordering  you  furthwith  to  come  along  with  fourty  of  your  men 
to  Dalreach  with  a  captain  and  two  subalterns,  and  cause  immediately  put 
your  order  in  execution  at  that  place  which  ye  have  from  the  Earl  of  Mar. 

Youre  also  to  send  up  other  fourty  of  your  men  w*  a  captain  and  two 
subalterns  to  Glenegles,  which  are  to  be  employed  in  the  same  manner.  This 
yeare  to  do  with  dispatch.  (Signed)  Alex.  Gordon. 

Ochterarder,  Nov.  6,  1715. 

To  the  Laird  of  Latin  (Lawton)  who  presently  commands  a  party  of  the 
King's  army  at  Doning  (Dunning). 
Warrand  for  Latoun,  1715  (Lawton). 
In  addition  to  charters  and  other  writs,  and  the  above  proclamation  and 


Chap.  XXXI.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNETTLES. 


83 


regimental  order,  there  are  some  interesting  papers,  &c.,  of  a  miscellaneous 
character,  in  the  charter  chest  in  the  mansion  house  of  Middleton,  among 
which  is  a  very  interesting  little  volume  containing — 

The  Confession  of  Faith  subscribed  by  the  King's  Maiestie  and  his  household 
printed  by  Robert  Waldegrave,  at  Edinburgh,  1590. 
The  volume  contains  several  fly  leaves,  on  some  of  which  are  subscriptions 
by  various  parties,  such  as  the  following : — 

At  Aberbrothock,  3d  April,  1606, 

Fran^  Ogilvey. 
At  Do.,  21st  October,  1606, 
Alex.  Clarck. 
Patrick  Guthrie. 
William  Wood  of  Balblain. 
At  Do.,  28th  November,  1621, 

Francis  Ogilvy  subscrifes  yir 
Articles  in  so  far  as  they  agree 
with  God's  Word. 

(Signed)  Fran^-  Ogilvey. 

5th  April,  1622,  John  Gardyne. 

17th  ,,  Harrie  Guthrie  of 

23d   June,  1622,  Gardyne  of  Lawton. 

On  one  page  there  are  many  signatures,  but  it  has  been  injured  by  damp, 
and  the  names  are  mostly  illegible.  In  binding  the  volume,  a  second  time 
apparently,  the  leaves  have  been  cut  too  close,  and  part  of  the  signatures  are 
wanting. 

The  volume  also  contains  Acts  of  Parliament  passed  since  the  coronation  of 
the  King's  Maiestie  and  other  matters.  The  printer  is  the  same  person,  but 
the  date  is  1593. 

The  mansion  of  Pitmuies  is  situate  on  a  fine  lawn  surrounded  by  a  thriv- 
ing plantation,  and  having  a  small  lake  near  its  northern  boundary.  There 
are  many  fine  trees  on  the  lawn  and  outlying  parks.  The  house  consists  of  a 
central  portion  and  two  wings,  each  of  three  floors,  beyond  which  there  is  a  one 
storey  wing  on  each  end,  the  fronts  of  which  are  circular.  The  front  door  is 
in  the  centre  of  the  front  wall,  with  a  portico  supported  on  lojiic  columns,  and 
over  this  part  of  the  front  there  is  a  pediment.      The  mansion  is  well  lighted 


84  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

and  commodious ;  althongli  it  lies  low  and  faces  the  north,  the  surroundings  are 
cheerful  and  pleasant.  There  is  a  good  walled  garden  behind  the  house,  and 
the  court  of  offices  is  at  some  distance  to  the  right  of  the  mansion. 

An  old  sculptured  stone  stood  by  the  sideof  the  highway  adjoining  the  wall 
which  enclosed  the  policies  of  Pitmuies.  It  was  in  a  very  exposed  place,  and 
the  top  of  the  stone  had  at  some  period  been  broken  off.  Mr  Lyell,  the  present 
proprietor,  has  had  the  stone,  with  the  large  boulder  pedestal  on  which  it 
stood,  removed  to  the  garden  of  the  gate  keeper  of  the  policy  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  spot  from  which  it  was  removed.  A  wicket  gate  opens  into  the 
garden,  where  it  now  stands,  for  the  convenience  of  persons  wlio  may  desire  to 
see  the  stone.  It  is  a  pity  that  Mr  Lyell  did  not  lay  the  sculptured  stone  in 
the  ground  for  a  short  time,  to  remove  the  lichen  and  moss  by  which  it  is 
covered,  before  placing  it  on  its  pedestal  again,  as  it  is  so  completely  covered 
with  moss  that  it  is  very  difficult  to  say  what  the  sculptures  really  are.  It 
may  yet  be  cleaned  at  small  cost  without  taking  it  from  its  pedestal. 

On  the  obverse  there  is  the  body  of  a  cross  in  relief  wanting  the  upper 
portion  and  the  arms,  which  have  been  broken  off,  but  the  stone  is  still  more 
than  five  feet  in  height  above  the  pedestal.  When  within  about  eighteen 
inches  of  the  base  of  the  stone  the  projection  of  the  cross  is  extended  out  some 
inches  on  each  side  of  it,  the  relief  block  or  square  being  carried  down  to  the 
bottom  of  the  stone.  From  the  angles  at  the  outer  extensions  a  circular  scroll 
turns  over  each  projection,  and  another  from  each  of  the  two  corners  of  the 
base  of  the  block.  In  the  block,  directly  under  the  shaft  of  the  cross,  a  square 
is  cut  into  the  block  the  depth  of  the  relief,  from  the  lower  corners  of  which 
circular  scrolls  turn  inwards.  On  the  reverse  there  is  what  appears  to  be  the 
lower  part  of  a  cross  shaft,  from  the  lower  corners  of  which  are  two  projections, 
seemin'^dy  intended  for  sockets  to  keep  the  cross  steady.  Underneath  this  is  an 
animal  like  a  horse,  but  with  a  longer  body,  with  open  mouth  and  apparently 
galloping.  Other  figures  are  below  this,  but  are  hidden  by  the  moss.  The 
edo-es  of  the  stone  are  plain,  nearly  six  inches  thick,  but  the  sizes  given  are  not 
from  actual  measurements,  being  only  approximations. 

On  the  25th  January,  1528-9,  William  Dempster  of  Careston  had  a  charter 
of  Pitmuies  and  mill  thereof,  in  the  regality  of  Kirriemuir.  It  thus  appears 
that  the  lands  had  previously  belonged  to  the  Earls  of  Angus.  The  estate 
afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Ogilvies ;  and  in  1684-5  it  was  the 
property  of  John  Ogilvy,  a  grandchild  of  a  second  son  of  the  house  of  Airlie. 
There  was  then  a  good  house  on  the  property,  well  planted  and  lying  pleasantly 


Chap.  XXXI.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KINNETTLES.  85 

on  the  banks  of  the  Vinny  stream.  The  property  was  subsequently  acquired 
by  the  Mudies,  with  whom  it  remained  until  the  death  of  John  Mudie,  the  last 
representative  of  the  family,  when  Leonard  Lyell  of  Kinnordy  succeeded  to 
the  estate,  and  is  the  present  proprietor  of  Pitmuies. 

John  Mudie  of  Gilchorn,  living  in  1570,  had  a  son  ;  John  Mudie  of  Brianton, 
living  in  1600,  had  by  Catherine  Renny,  his  wife,  two  sons,  George,  the  elder, 
and  David  Mudie,  designed  of  Courthill,  who  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 

George  Mudie,  the  elder  brother,  married  Elizabeth  Garden  or  Gardyne  of 
Leys,  and  had  two  sons,  David,  the  elder,  and  John  Mudie,  the  younger,  of 
Gilchorn.  John  married  Margaret  Watson  of  Piersfield,  and  by  her  had  four 
sons  and  a  daughter,  Margaret,  married  to  Robert  Speid  of  Ardovie. 

I.  David,  the  eldest,  of  whom  below. 

II.  John  of  Arbikie,  married  first.  Lady  Magdalen  Carnegie,  and  secondly, 
Margaret  Turnbull  of  Stracathro,  and  had  two  sons,  John  and  David.  John 
Mudie  of  Arbikie  married  Magdalen,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Mr  Carnegie,  Dean 
of  Brechin,  and  sister  of  Carnegie  of  Craigo.  By  her  he  had  three  daughters, 
Elizabeth,  married  to  Robert  Smith  of  Forret,  and  by  him  was  mother  of 
William  Smith,  who  married  his  cousin,  Magdalen  Hay  ;  Agnes,  married  to 
James  Hay  of  Cocklaw,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters — Mag- 
dalen, married  to  her  cousin,  William  Smith,  who  took  the  additional  name 
of  Mudie ;  the  elder  son,  Charles  Hay,  became  a  Senator  of  the  College  of 
Justice  as  Lord  Newton ;  James,  the  younger.  On  the  death  of  Lord  Newton  in 
1811,  Mrs  A.  Mudie,  his  sister,  inherited  the  estate  of  Arbikie.  On  the  death 
of  Mrs  Mudie  in  1823,  that  estate  devolved  upon  her  cousin,  James  Mudie  of 
Pitmuies.     Anne,  the  other  sister,  was  married  to  Robert  Stephen  of  Letham. 

III.  Sir  Thomas  Mudie  of  Dundee,  in  1673,  married  Agnes  Bathgal  of 
Dundee. 

IV.  James,  the  youngest  son,  of  Scotston,  left  two  daugliters — Elizabeth, 
in  1702,  married  to  Alexander  Greig,  and  Magdalen,  married  to  John  Livie  of 
Scotston. 

I.  David  Mudie,  the  eldest  son,  mentioned  above,  married,  in  1664,  Isabel 
Colvill,  and  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  Isabel,  married  in  1704  to  David 
Wallace  of  Arbroath.     The  sons  were — 

John  Mudie  of  Gilchorn. 

David  Mudie  of  Balkelie,  who  married  Jean  Scott  of  Logic,  and  had  two 
daughters — Margaret,  the  elder,  married  to  John  J^yell  of  Carcary,  and  the 
younger  married  to  Archibald  Greig  of  Glenskenno. 


86  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

James  Mudie.  the  third  son,  married  Helen  Fairweather  of  Brianton,  and 
had — with  two  daughters,  Elizabeth,  married  in  1574  to  John  Wallace,  Provost 
of  Arbroath,  and  Helen,  who  died  unmarried — two  sons,  James  Mudie,  who 
married  Ann  Graham  of  Duntrune;  and  David  Mudie,  who,  in  April,  1765, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Dr  Geikie  and  his  wife,  Catharine  Wallace.  He 
died  in  April,  1788,  and  had  issue.  The  eldest  son,  James  Mudie  of  Pitmuies, 
J.P.  and  D.L.,  was  born  26th  January,  1768.  On  11th  December,  1798,  he 
married  Jane,  daughter  of  Charles  Aitken  of  Belvidere,  Island  of  St  Croix, 
West  Indies,  and  by  her,  who  died  26th  December,  1855,  left  at  his  decease, 
21st  June,  1850,  one  surviving  son,  John  Mudie,  and  one  daughter,  Catharine. 
John  Mudie  of  Pitmuies,  J.P.,  a  member  of  the  Faculty  of  Advocates, 
was  born  26th  May,  1812.  He  died  in  1877,  leaving  the  estate  of  Pitmuies 
and  considerable  money  and  other  wealth  to  Leonard  Lyell  of  Pitmuies,  of  the 
family  of  Kinnordy,  and  now  proprietor  of  Kinnordy. 

ARMS  OF  MUDIE   OF  PITMUIES. 

Arms. — Az.,  a  chev.  erm  between  three  pheons,  arg.,  a  bordure  of  tho  last. 

Crest. — A  pheon,  arg. 

Motto. — ^Defensio  non  offensio. 

Pitmuies,  Arbroath,  Co.  Forfar. 

Chap.  XXXIL— KIRRIEMUIR. 

The  following  notices  of  Kirriemuir  are  from  Skene's  "  Celtic  Scotland"  : — 
Athelstan  invaded  Alba n  in  933  both  by  sea  and  land.  Simeon  of  Durham 
says  that,  having  put  Owin,  King  of  the  Cumbrians,  and  Constantin,  King  of 
the  Scots,  to  flight,  he  ravaged  Scotland  with  his  land  force,  which  consisted 
of  cavalry,  as  far  as  Dunfoeder  or  Dunfother,  and  Wertermore,  probably  the 
Saxon  form  of  Kerrimor  or  Kirriemuir,  in  Forfarshire ;  and  with  his  navy  as 
far  as  Caithness,  and  in  a  great  measure  depopulated  it.     (Vol.  I.,  p.  352.) 

According  to  the  chronicle  of  Melrose,  and  Simeon  of  Durham,  in  934, 
*'Kex  Athelstanus  vastavit  Scotiam  usque  ad  Dunfoeder  et  Wertemore 
terrestri  exercitu;  navati  vero  usque  Catanes  ;  eo  quod  Constantinus  pactum 
foederis  dirupit."  Dunfoeder  is  Dunfother,  now  Dunottar  in  the  Mearns,  and 
by  Wertermore  is,  I  believe,  meant  Kerimor,  now  Kerriemuir  in  Angus, 
one  of  the  principal  seats  of  the  old  Mormaers,'or  Earls  of  Angus.  Kerimor 
was  the  name  of  one  of  the  quarters  into  which  Angus  was  divided.  Keri  is 
Ceathrainh,  a  quarter  in  Gaelic,  and  tlie  Saxon  equivalent  is  Feorde,  corrupted 
to  Werte.     This  led  to  the  great  battle  of  Brunanburgh,  called  by  Fordun  in 


Chap.  XXXTI]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  87 

this  and  the  next  chapter  Brounygfelcle,  in  which  the  whole  powers  north  of  the 
Humber  were  arrayed  against  Athelstan,King  of  the  West  Saxons,  and  defeated. 
The  site  of  this  battle  is  one  of  the  problems  of  history  which  has  not  yet  been 
solved.     (Vol.  II.,  p.  410.) 

The  following  particulars  regarding  the  Church  of  Kirriemuir  and  other 
churches,  churchmen,  and  lands  given  the  monks  of  Arbroath,  are  from  Eeg. 
de  Aber. : — 

The  Church  of  Kirriemuir  was  one  of  the  four  given  by  Gilchrist, 
Earl  of  Angus,  to  the  Abbey  of  Aberbrothock,  the  others  being  Monifieth, 
Murroes,  and  Mains  (Kerimure,  Munifod,  Muraus,  Strathechtin).  The  gift 
was  confirmed,  along  with  others  to  the  Abbey,  by  King  William  the  Lion, 
1211-1214  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  p.  6).  The  charter  of  Monifieth  by  the  Earl,  and 
confirmation  charter  by  the  King,  are  on  p.  29  of  Reg.  (1201-1207),  of  Murroes, 
p.  30;  of  Kirriemuir  and  of  Mains,  p.  ol-2.  These  charters  were  con- 
firmed by  Duncan,  Earl  of  Angus,  1204-1211  (p.  33)  ;  by  Malcolm,  Earl 
of  Angus,  1214-1226  (p.  33);  and  by  Matilda,  Countess  of  Angus,  1242- 
1243  (p.  34). 

In  1214-1226,  Malcolm,  Earl  of  Angus,  gave  the  Church  of  St  Thomas  the 
martyr,  of  Aberbrothock,  a  charter  of  land  in  the  territory  of  Kirriemuir.  The 
lands  are  called  Aldenkonhro  and  Aldhendouen,  but  what  the  present  names 
of  these  lands  are  we  do  not  know  (p.  80).  The  charters  of  these  churches 
were  confirmed  by  Bishop  William  Malvoisine  in  1202-1204,  pp.  Ill,  113, 
They  were  also  confirmed  by  Pope  Honorii,  1219,  pp.  156-8. 

From  time  immemorial  Kirriemuir  was  a  temporal  regality  of  the  Earls  of 
Angus,  and,  as  such,  has  been  in  possession  of  the  various  noble  families  who 
held  that  title  until  the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Douglas,  as  already  related. 
Heritable  jurisdictions  were  aboUshed  before  the  title  passed  from  the  House 
of  Douglas,  and  the  Duke  of  Douglas  was,  in  1748,  awarded  £750  for  the 
heritable  office  of  Lordship  and  jurisdiction  of  the  regality  of  Kirriemuir 
(Vol.  IL,  p.  231). 

The  Baron  Bailie,  the  representative  of  the  Earls  of  Angus,  had  the  power 
of  pit  and  gallows,  or  life  and  death  ;  and  the  Earl  maintained  a  prison  for 
criminals,  and  also  debtors,  until  a  little  more  than  two  centuries  ago.  Town 
Clerk  Chalmers  of  Dundee  appears  to  have  been  the  last  principal  Bailie, 
which  office  he  held  until  the  beginning  of  this  century.  For  a  long  period 
prior  to  that  time  the  work  was  chiefly  done  by  Bailies-Depute.  During  this 
century  the  factors  of  the  Douglas  family  and   their  successors  have  been 


88  ANGUS  OR  FORFAKSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Bailies — principal,  with  deputes  under  tliem.  Duncan  Wilkie  has  long  held 
the  office,  bat  his  duties  are  now  light.  He  holds  his  court,  attended  by  a 
guard,  at  the  Hill  and  Croft  Markets,  and  at  the  Town  House,  in  the  town, 
which  is  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Home,  when  necessary. 

Ochterlony's  account  of  the  Regality  Courts  and  of  the  town  of  Kirriemuir 
about  two  centuries  ago  is  given  in  Vol.  II.,  p.  252-9. 

The  only  entries  in  the  Great  Seal  Register,  from  the  commencement  to  the 
year  1600,  which  mention  any  connection  between  the  Earls  of  Angus  and 
Kirriemuir,  are  the  following  two  : — 

1.  Charter  to  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  of  the  lordship  and  barony  of 
Kyremure,  year  23d  of  James  lY.,  1st  August,  1510  (Book  16,  No.  70).  This 
was  the  great  Earl  known  as  "  Bell  the  Cat."  He  was  the  fifth  Douglas  Earl 
of  Angus,  and  eleventh  Earl  of  Douglas,  and  died  shortly  after  fatal  Flodden. 
(See  Vol.  I.,  p.  290.)  A  fac  simile  of  a  writ  by  the  Earl  in  connection  with 
lands  in  the  barony  of  Inverquharity  is  given  as  a  frontispiece  to  this  volume. 

2.  Charter  to  Archibald,  sixth  Earl  of  Angus,  and  his  son,  James  Douglas, 
of  the  lordships  of  Kirrimure,  &c.,  year  5th  of  Mary,  31st  August,  1547. 
(Book  30,  No.  164.)  This  Earl  married  Queen  Margaret,  widow  of  James 
IV,  and  daughter  of  Henry  VII.  of  England.     (Vol.  I.,  p.  291.) 

On  8th  September,  1668,  James,  second  Marquis  of  Douglas,  thirteenth 
Earl  of  Angus,  &c.,  heir  of  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  his  father,  was  retoured 
(No.  434)  in  the  Earldom  of  Angus,  comprehending  the  following  lands,  lord- 
ships, baronies,  and  regalities,  viz. ; — In  the  lands,  barony,  and  regality  of 
Kirriemure— A.E.,  £40 ;  N.E.,  £200.  Burghs  of  barony  of  Kirriemuir,  Aber- 
nethy,  Kirkton  of  Douglas,  Crawford- Douglas,  Preston,  Both  well,  Selkirk,  and 
Drumlithie,  with  all  the  honours,  dignities,  immunities,  rights,  privileges,  &c., 
&c.,  possessed  by  the  deceased  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  or  by  his  predecessors, 
Earls  of  Angus,  granted  by  the  Kings,  Parliaments,  Conventions,  Councils, 
&c.,  &c.     He  was  grandson  of  the  first  Marquis.     (Vol.  I.,  p.  300-1.) 

The  following  particulars  are  taken  from  the  Index  to  the  Acts  of  the  Parlia- 
ments of  Scotland : — 

The  lordship  of  Kirriemuir  was  annexed  to  the  Crown  on  the  forfeiture  of 
the  Earl  of  Angus  (Acta  Pari.  1540,  II.,  361a,  405a),  but  he  received  it  back  on 
his  restoration  a  few  years  afterwards.  (II.,  56 1.)  The  parish  petitions  for  pay- 
ment of  disbursements  for  the  garrison  at  Inverquharity ;  exempted  in  the 
meantime  from  payment  of  bygone  public  dues,  1647,  c.  405,  VI.,  1,793; 
Marquis  of  Douglas  to  have  three  new  fairs  at  the  burgh,  1670,  c.  18,  VIII., 


Chap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIEEIEMUIR.  89 

20,  App.  6a ;  the  Marquis  to  have  three  yearly  fairs  at  Killimuire,  1686,  c.  81, 
VIII.,  648  ;  Kirriemuir  to  pay  a  share  of  taxation  in  return  for  the  com- 
munication  of  trade,  1699,  x.,  App.  118  b ,  126  b,,  131  a. 

In  1670  James,  2d  Marquis  of  Douglas,  had  liberty  to  hold  "  three  faires  in 
the  yeare"  at  his  burgh  of  regality  of  Killimuir,  the  first  upon  the  Tuesday  before 
Whitsunday,  the  second  on  the  1st  of  September,  and  the  third  on  the  Tuesday 
before  Martinmas,  each  fair  to  "  continue  and  endure  during  the  space  of  four 
dayes."  A  full  account  of  the  historical  and  noble  house  of  Angus  is  given  in 
Vol.  I.,  p.  364  and  onward.  After  the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Douglas, 
fourteenth  Earl  of  Angus,  in  1761,  the  male  line  became  extinct,  and  the  titles 
merged  in  the  House  of  Hamilton  (Vol.  I.,  p.  304),  but  the  real  and  personal 
estates,  including  the  lordship  of  Kirriemuir,  became  the  property  of  Archibald 
Stewart  Douglas,  his  nephew,  in  terms  of  the  decision  of  the  House  of  Lords 
in  the  celebrated  Douglas  cause.  They  have,  since  the  death  of  Archibald 
Douglas,  v.^ho  in  1790  was  created  Lord  Douglas,  and  died  in  1827,  been  in 
possession  of  three  of  his  sons  respectively  and  one  of  his  daughters,  and  they 
now  belong  to  his  great-grandson,  the  Earl  of  Home.  It  does  not  appear  that 
the  Earls  of  Angus  ever  had  any  castle  or  residence  at  Kirriemuir,  which  is 
strange,  seeing  they  must  have  been  there  very  frequently. 

The  parish  of  Kerimore  was  in  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews.  St  Mary,  virgin, 
was  the  patroness  of  the  Church.  Bricius,  who  appears  to  have  been  private 
chaplain  to  Earl  Gilchrist  and  his  son,  Earl  Duncan,  was  appointed  chaplain 
of  Kirriemuir  about  the  time  of  the  succession  of  Earl  Malcolm.  He  witnesses 
the  charters  by  these  three  Earls  relating  to  the  churches  they  gifted  to  the 
Abbey  of  Aberbrothock,  and  others,  from  about  1214  to  1243  (Reg.  de  Aberb., 
pp.  29,  36,  50,  80,  &c.).  His  son  Nicholas  was  the  hereditary  keeper  of  the 
Abthein  of  Monifeit  (do.,  p.  331). 

Kirriemuir  was  a  vicarage,  and  it  was  taxed  by  Bishop  David  of  St  Andrews 
in  1249.  In  the  taxation  of  1275  the  church  is  rated  at  30  raerks  (Reg.  de 
Aberb.,  p.  230).  Id  this  taxation  there  is  no  mention  of  any  chapel  being 
dependent  upon  it,  but  tradition  asserts  that,  besides  the  chapel  of  Glenprosen, 
there  were  six  others  in  different  parts  of  the  parish,  viz. — at  Ballinshoe  (St 
Ninian's),  at  Kilhill,  at  Aberneathen  near  Kinnordy,  at  Chapelton'of  Kintyrie, 
at  Muirhouse  (St  Colm's),  and  another  in  the  town  called  St  Magdalene's.  There 
appears  to  be  no  evidence  extant  regarding  these.  "  The  Roods"  imply  either 
the  existence  of  an  altar  dedicated  to  the  Holy  Cross  within  the  Church  of 
St  Mary's,  or  refer  to  the  ground  on  either  side  of  it  given  off  in  roods. 
M 


90  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

There  is  evidence  of  an  old  chapel,  "  Sancti  Culmoci,"  which  stood  within 
the  former  churchyard,  in  the  tofts  and  houses  belonging  to  which  David 
Ogilvy,  writer  in  Edinburgh,  was  served  heir  to  his  grandfather  in  1700. 

In  1567  the  Churches  of  Kirriemuir  and  Kingoldrum  were  served  by  Alex- 
ander Auchinleck.  George  FyfFe  was  then  schoolmaster  or  reader  at  Kirrie- 
muir. In  1574  Kerymure,  Kincoldrum,  and  Nether  Airlie  were  served  by 
David  Blak,  minister,  with  a  stipend  of  £80  and  kirk  lands  ;  James  Steill, 
reidare  at  Kingoldrum,  salary  £16  and  kirk  lands ;  and  Abrahame  Pyghot  at 
Kerymure,  salary  £20.  (Mis.  W.  Soc,  p.  350.)  The  old  Church  of  Kirrie- 
muir, as  mentioned  in  the  Session  records  in  1748  by  Kev.  George  Ogilvy,  was 
about  200  feet  long  and  20  feet  broad,  built  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  with  two 
aisles,  one  to  the  south,  the  other  opposite  it  to  the  north.  Some  of  the  pews 
bore  the  dates  1612  and  1614,  and  "the  quire"  contained  a  monument  to 
Anna,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  who  died  February,  1605, 
in  the  32d  year  of  her  age.  She  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Alex.  Kyninmonth, 
minister  of  Kirriemuir  and  laird  of  Meathie.  The  two  aisles  were  the  burial 
places  of  the  Ogilvys  of  Inverquharity  and  the  Wisharts  of  Logie. 

When  the  old  Church  was  demolished  in  1787  some  fragments  of  very 
interesting  sculptured  stones  were  discovered  in  its  foundations.  One  of  these 
exhibits  the  figure  of  a  man,  supposed  to  be  a  Brehcn  or  judge,  seated  in  a 
chair,  with  a  sword  on  the  one  side  and  a  mirror  and  comb  on  the  other, 
while  the  upper  compartment  contains  two  figures  in  the  respective  attitudes 
of  a  pleader  and  a  listener.  This  carries  us  back  to  a  time  when  the  Brehon 
laws  were  still  in  force  among  the  early  Celtic  inhabitants.  The  Brehons  had 
probably  held  their  courts,  as  the  Earls  of  Angus  did  in  much  later  times.  A 
description  of  these  stones  is  given  Vol.  L,  pp.  28-9.  They  are  now  in  a 
sheltered  spot  in  the  cemetery.  The  Courthillok,  a  rounded  eminence  now 
levelled,  stood  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  town  of  Kirriemuir.  The  remains 
of  a  standing  stone  about  9  feet  in  height,  by  about  4^  feet  in  breadth,  still  rears 
its  head  above  the  Market  Muir,  and  forms  a  very  conspicuous  object  there. 

There  were  two  rocking  stones  upon  the  north-west  of  the  hill  of  Kirrie- 
muir, which  had  stood  there  for  ages  prior  to  1843,  and  they  were  objects  of 
great  interest  to  the  Kirriemarians,  and  to  strangers  visiting  the  town.  During 
that  year  they  were  destroyed.  (See  Vol.  I.,  p.  18.)  These  stone  memorials 
of  a  remote  age  are  thus  described  by  the  Eev.  T.  Easton,  D.D.,  in  the  new 
Statistical  Account  of  the  parish — "  The  one  of  them  is  a  block  of  whinstone, 
nearly  oval,  and  is  three  feet  three  inches  in  height,  and  four  feet  ten  inches  ia 


Chap.  XXXII.]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  91 

breadth.  The  other,  of  Lintrathen  porphyry,  is  two  feet  in  height,  eight  feet 
in  length,  and  five  feet  in  breadth."  He  gives  no  description  of  the  bases  upon 
which  the  magic  pivots  moved,  or  other  details  of  them. 

' '  It  moves  obsequious  to  the  gentlest  touch 
Of  him  whose  breast  is  pure  ;  but  to  the  traitor, 
Though  e'en  a  giant's  prowess  nerved  his  arm. 
It  stands  as  fixed  as  Snowden." 

— Maso7i^s  Caractacus. 

A  circle  of  stones  was  discovered  in  trenching  a  field  at  CaldJiame,  a  little 
to  the  north  of  the  town.  It  was  over  sixty  feet  in  diameter,  and  in  the  centre 
was  a  large  standing  stone.  The  circle  was  removed,  but  the  centre  stone  was 
left.  Sepulchral  and  other  ancient  remains,  such  as  flints,  armour,  coins,  &c., 
have  been  found  in  the  district.  A  hill  fort  is  on  the  hill  of  Meams  a  little 
farther  to  the  north  ;  and  to  the  south  of  Caldhame,  about  half  a  mile  of  a 
Roman  road  might  have  formerly  been  traced  in  a  plantation  called  "  Young 
Caldhame,"  and  in  a  belt  of  wood  to  the  west  of  it.  It  is  referred  to  by 
Pinkerton  in  his  History  of  Scotland,  and  by  General  Eoy.  A  Druidical 
circle  of  stones  was  at  one  time  to  be  seen  near  Balmuckety. 

All  record  and  all  available  evidence  show  that  Kirriemuir  received  its 
name  from  the  patroness  of  the  church — Kil-Mary — and  that  it  was  a 
place  of  no  little  importance  in  early  times.  It  was  the  capital  of 
the  Maormers  or  Celtic  Earls  of  Angus  and  their  successors,  and  the 
standing  stones  upon  the  hill  mentioned  above,  or  the  Courthillok,  had 
for  many  ages  been  the  site  of  their  Regality  Courts.  The  territories 
which  in  these  early  times  belonged  to  the  Earldom  were  of  vast  extent,  "  com- 
prising large  tracts  of  land  in  the  parishes  of  Kirriemuir,  Monifieth,  Murroes, 
Auchterhouse,  Tealing,  Kirkden,  and  others,  which  were  all  included  within  the 
Regallitie  of  Kirriemuire."  The  lands  were  held  by  vassals,  who  were  bound 
to  give  suit  at  one,  two,  or  more  courts,  "  at  the  Courthill  of  Keriemore,"  where 
the  Earls  themselves  received  seisin  of  the  lands  and  Earldom  down  to  at  least 
the  12th  March,  1632.  On  8th  September,  1668,  when  James,  Marquis  of 
Douglas  succeeded,  his  retour  bore  "  the  Reddendo  of  the  said  lordship  and 
regalitie  of  Kirriemoor  to  be  a  silver  penny  payable  at  the  principal  messuage 
of  Kiriemoor,  at  the  feast  of  the  nativitie  of  iSt  John  the  Baptist,  in  name  of 
Blencheferme  if  it  beis  asked  allenarlie,  and  that  the  old  extent  was  40  lib. 
Scotts,  and  the  new  200  lib.  Scotts."  (Inv.  of  writs  L.  and  R.  of  Kirriemuir 
at  Panmure.) 


92  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  parish  of  Kirriemuir  is  irregular  in  form.  It  is  divided  into  two  parts, 
the  northern  and  smaller  section  being  detached  from  two  to  three  miles  from 
the  southern  or  larger  portion.  The  northern  section  is  about  eleven  miles  in 
extreme  length,  from  north-west  to  south-east,  by  four  in  extreme  breadth.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  north-east  by  Clova,  on  the  east  by  Cortachy,  on  the  south 
by  Kingoldrum,  and  on  the  south-west  by  Lintrathen  and  Glenisla.  The 
southern  portion  is  nearly  six  miles  in  extreme  length  from  north  to  south, 
and  live  in  extreme  breadth  from  east  to  west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  west 
by  Airlie  and  Kingoldrum,  on  the  north  by  Cortachy  and  Tannadice,  on  the 
east  by  Oathlaw  and  Eescobie,  and  on  the  south  by  Forfar  and  Glamis. 
The  northern  section  contains  20,630-862  acres,  of  which  28-040  are  water ; 
and  the  southern  section  15,027-264  acres,  of  which  29-626  are  water;  the 
total  acreage  of  bothbeng  35,658-126,  of  which  57*668  are  water. 

The  northern  district  is  highland  and  mountainous,  and  known  as  Glen- 
prosen.  The  Prosen  runs  through  its  entire  length,  and  is  joined  by  burns 
from  lateral  glens  on  each  bank ;  most  of  the  glens  are  pastoral.  A  large  part  of 
the  huge  mountain,  Catlaw  (2196),  is  in  this  parish.  The  mansions  of  Balna- 
both  (Ogilvy)  and  Lednathie  (Darling)  are  in  this  district,  and  the  scenery 
is  in  many  places  very  beautiful.  The  streams  swarm  with  small  trout,  which 
afford  good  sport  to  the  angler. 

The  southern  division,  which  lies  on  the  north  side  of  the  Valley  of  Strath- 
more,  is  nearly  square  in  form.  The  land  is  principally  agricultural,  and 
generally  of  good  quality.  The  southern  fringe  of  this  district  is,  for  about  a 
mile,  almost  flat.  It  then  begins  to  rise,  and  for  about  two  miles  there  is  a 
gentle  ascent  to  the  summit  of  the  deep  gorge  which  bounds  the  town  of 
Kirriemuir  on  the  west  and  south,  and  is  about  one  hundred  feet  in  depth. 
The  western  portion  of  this  hollow,  called  Gairie  Den,  is  now  a  fine  public  park. 
It  is  a  romantic  spot,  much  prized  by  the  inhabitants,  and  well  worthy  of  a 
visit  by  strangers.  The  rivulet  Gairie,  which  flows  through  the  den,  rises  in 
the  marsh  that  was  once  the  Loch  of  Kinnordy,  and  falls  into  the  Dean.  To 
the  north  of  the  town  the  ground  rises  rapidly  for  some  distance,  but  more 
gradually  on  the  west.  On  the  north-east  of  the  town  there  is  a  lofty,  precipitous, 
or  all  but  perpendicular  rock.  From  the  summit  the  ground  declines  to  the 
north,  and  there  the  parish  is  beautifully  diversified  with  hills  and  dales, 
streams,  verdant  and  sylvan  scenery,  with  the  lofty  Grampians  as  a  back- 
ground. 

The  prospect  from  the  hill  of  Kirriemuir  is  extensive  in  nearly  every  direc- 


Chap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIREIEMUIR.  93 

tion,  very  varied,  and  extremely  beautiful.      There  are  few  points  from  which 
grander  views  can  be  obtained  so  easily  as  from  this  spot. 

Extracts  from  the  Records  of  the  Kirk-Session  of  Kirriemuir. 

On  7th  June,  1716,  there  was  thanksgiving  for  the  suppression  of  the  Re- 
bellion. On  17th  June  an  order  was  read  from  the  latterin  by  Myjor-General 
Labin,  commander-in-chief  of  H.M.  forces  in  North  Britain,  for  all  the  com- 
moners concerned  in  the  late  Rebellion  to'  come  to  Dundee  and  deliver  up  their 
arms  on  21st,  22d,  and  23d  days  of  June,  and  submit  themselves  to  the  King's 
mercy. 

24th  March,  1717. — A  committee  of  Presbytery  met  the  minister  to  judge 
in  scandals.  They,  considering  the  difficulty  of  getting  elders  in  a  disaffected 
place,  and  the  need  of  them,  appointed  three  parishioners  to  that  office. 

On  7th  April  no  sermon,  the  minister  preaching  in  Glenprosen.  This  is  an 
entry  of  frequent  occurrence. 

9th  March,  1718. — A  collection  made  at  the  church  for  a  man  in  Airlie, 
and  another  in  Kirriemuir,  who  had  got  their  houses  burned  ;  £21  5s  Scots 
collected,  £3  5s  of  which  put  into  the  box,  and  £18  divided  between  the  two  men. 

22d  June. — Paid  for  a  mortcloth,  £176  4s  Scojts. 

7th  December. — An  extraordinary  coHection  made- for  distressed  Protestants 
in  Lethuania,  £19  6s  Scots. 

17th  May,  1719. — Session  Clerk  paid  £20  Scots  out  of  the  box  for  his  salary 
from  Whitsunday  1718  to  1719. 

31st  October,  1720. — The  expenses  of  rebuilding  the  bell  house,  and  re- 
hanging  the  bell  paid.  An  order  given  that  those  who  want  the  bell  rung  at 
funerals  to  pay  10s  Scots  beforehand. 

3d  December,  1721. — A  Fast  ordered  throughout  North  Britain  by  procla- 
mation of  the  King,  on  Friday  next,  that  the  country  may  be  preserved  from 
the  plague. 

22d  April,  1722. — A  volunteer  collection  ordered  for  helping  to  repair  a 
bridge  at  Ruthven. 

On  7th  April,  1723. — The  Kirk  Session,  considering  that  many  idle  people 
on  the  Lord's  Day  sat  at  doors,  some  in  alehouses,  and  some  walked  the  fields 
in  time  of  divine  service,  it  was  enacted  that  an  elder,  with  the  beadle  and 
town's  officer,  should  go  through  the  town  in  time  of  sermon,  and  searcli  the 
alehouses,  and  view  the  fields  that  lay  near,  and  if  any  be  found  that  for  the 
first  fault  they  be  privately  admonished,  for  the  second  rebuked  before  the 


94        ■  AN^GUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Session,  the  third  time  to  be  rebuked  pubhcly  before  the  congregation,  and  for 
the  fourth  fault  the  civil  magistrate  to  punish  them. 

4th  October,  1724. — The  Session  resolved  to  put  up  a  loft  in  the  east  end  of 
tlie  church  from  the  poor's  box,  and  to  be  kept  for  their  use,  the  church  being 
much  crowded. 

On  11th  December,  1726,  memo. — It  was  a  very  stormy  day.  (Aid.  Mis. 
MS.,  p.  330.) 

In  the  small  pamphlet  which  was  got  up  with  much  care  by  David  Allan, 
and  published  in  1864,  an  interesting  account  is  given  of  the  heritors,  classed 
according  to  their  valued  rents,  with  the  number  of  people  living  on  their  re- 
spective lands,  in  1748.     We  give  a  copy. 

1.  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  including  Kinnordy,  on  his  grounds 
123  families,  and  563  people,  young  and  old. 

David  Kinloch,  for  the  lands  of  Logic,  Herdhill,  and  Balloch,  111  families  ; 
people,  young  and  old,  470. 

2,  Eobert  Fletcher  of  Bailinshoe,  on  his  lands — families,  128  ;  people,  young 
and  old,  545. 

John  Brown  of  Glaswell,  on  his  lands — families,  41 ;  people,  young  and  old, 
150. 

2.  Mr  Graham  of  Ballindarg,  on  his  lands — families,  35  ;  people,  young  and 
old,  136. 

On  Strathmore's  grounds,  in  this  parish,  called  the  Forest — families,  25  ; 
people,  young  and  old,  107. 

1.  Robert  Watson  of  Sheilhill,  on  his  lands — families,  15  ;  people,  young 
and  old,  81. 

1.  John  Watson  of  Longbank,  on  his  lands — families,  30  ;  people,  young 
and  old,  136. 

1.  Mr  George  Ogilvy  of  Kintyrie,  on  his  lands — famihes,  7  ;  people,  young 
and  old,  31. 

3.  John  Stormonth  of  Kinquhirrie,  on  his  lands — families,  12  ;  people,  young 
and  old,  48. 

Those  properties  marked  1  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  trustees  of  tlie 
late  Charles  Lyell  of  Kinnordy.  Those  marked  2  are  now  the  property  of 
the  Earl  of  Stratlimore  ;  and  3  of  the  Earl  of  Airlie. 

"James  Stormonth  of  Lednathie  is  another  heritor.  He  is  included  in  Glen- 
prosen,  which  belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Airlie,  eitlier  in  property  or  superiority, 
and  in  that  country  are  72  families ;   people,  young  and  old,  367.     Lord 


Chap.  XXXII.]   ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  95 

Airlie's    valued    rent    is    the    highest,    except    Inverquharity,    Kilrie,    and 
Ballinshoe." 

"  This  is  the  number  of  famihes  and  people  taken  at  the  parochial  visitation 
anno  1748,  and  in  the  parish  there  were  then  of  families,  794,  and  of  people, 
3407.  In  1801  the  population  amounted  to  4421  ;  in  1824,  5600  ;  in  1831, 
6425  ;  and  at  present  (1864),  nearly  8000." 

In  the  old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  it  is  said  there  was  great  suffer- 
ing in  the  town  in  1782.  The  crop  was  good,  and  some  of  the  farmers  never 
had  a  better.  The  people  expected  prices  to  rule  low,  and  they  entered  into  an 
agreement  among  themselves  not  to  give  above  a  certain  price.  The  farmers 
would  not  sell  at  the  townsmen's  price,  and  took  their  victual  to  the  best 
market.  The  town  was  threatened  with  famine,  and  the  people  were  much 
distressed  for  a  time.  This  led  to  the  establishment  of  a  society  for  the 
mutual  support  and  benefit  of  the  members,  called  the  Weaver  Society.  It 
also  led  to  a  conflict  between  the  townsmen  and  the  farmers,  known  as  the 
Battle  of  Cloisterbank,  a  full  account  ot  which  is  given  by  a  local  historian, 
in  which  the  farmers  were  ignominiously  defeated. 

In  1839  another  conflict  took  place  in  the  old  town,  the  consequences  of 
which  were  more  disastrous  to  the  townsmen  than  the  other.  It  originated  in 
a  dispute  between  the  manufacturers  and  the  weavers  regarding  wages,  and 
was  carried  too  far.  Although  there  was  little  injury  done  to  any  one,  some 
of  the  leaders  among  the  weavers,  male  and  female,  were  captured,  tried  at 
Edinburgh,  and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  periods  varying  from  four  to 
ten  months.  One  woman  was  sentenced  to  nine  months,  but  exertions  were 
made  on  her  behalf  by  influential  persons,  and  she  got  off  long  before  her  term 
of  imprisonment  expired. 

The  Parish  Church,  built  in  1787,  was  the  first  house  in  the  town  covered 
with  blue  slates.  Charles  Lyell  of  Kinnordy,  who  died  in  1849,  added  a  spire 
to  the  church,  and  the  completed  edifice  is  a  handsome  structure. 

In  1836  a  Chapel  of  Ease  was  built  in  the  South  Muir,  and,  the  southern 
district  of  the  parish  having  been  assigned  to  it,  has  since  been  erected  into  a 
quoad  sacra  parish,  called  the  South  parish  of  Kirriemuir.  This  church  and 
the  South  Free  Church  are  in  the  district  south  of  the  Gairie  Den,  called  the 
South  Muir  or  New  Town.  The  Episcopalian  congregation  has  existed  since 
1561.  Their  church  was  erected  in  1795  by  the  Lyells  of  Kinnordy,  and 
is  their  property.  It  has  a  neat  spire,  but  is  a  plain,  unpretending  building. 
The  Original  Secession  congregation  was  established  in  1788,  and  their  meeting 


96  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

house  was  built  in  1807.  There  are  also  the  North  Free  Church,  and  the  West 
and  Bank  Street  United  Presbyterian  Churches,  all  to  the  north  of  the  Den. 

The  late  Mr  Webster,  bank  agent,  who  died  about  forty  years  ago,  left 
about  £8000  for  building  and  endowing  a  seminary,  and  an  airy,  handsome 
establishment  has  been  erected  between  the  old  and  new  towns,  which  is  largely 
attended  ;  Mr  Henry  of  Kensington  left  fully  £2000  for  educational  purposes. 
There  are  other  schools  in  the  town,  and  education  is  both  good  and  cheap. 

Another  native  of  the  town,  George  Wilkie  of  Sydney,  contributed  largely 
towards  the  expense  of  converting  the  romantic  Den  of  the  Gairie  into  a  public 
park,  and  the  Den  is  now  a  charming  spot. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  some  of  the  ministers  of  Kirriemuir : — 
Alexander  Kyninmonth  was  the  pastor  before  the  end  of  the  16th  century.  He 
was  laird  of  Meathie,  and  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inver- 
quharity,  who  died  in  February,  1605,  in  her  32d  year.  He  was  alive  in  1621. 
A  son  of  his  became  minister  in  1629.  He  died  about  1668,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Sylvester  Lyon,  from  Kinnettles,  who  died  1713.  George  Ogilvy 
succeeded.  He  was  the  first  Presbyterian  minister  of  the  parish,  and  his  ordina- 
tion was  so  keenly  opposed  by  his  Episcopalian  flock  that  it  had  to  be  carried 
out  in  the  Muir  of  Logie,  some  distance  south  of  the  town.  He  was  minister  of 
Benvie  before  getting  the  charge  of  Kirriemuir,  and  he  remained  there  until 
February,  1716,  when  he  got  peaceable  access.  He  died  in  1771,  aged  90. 
Mr  Eadie  succeeded  to  Kirriemuir,  and  was  followed  by  Mr  Thomas  Ogilvy, 
who  wrote  the  old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish.  George  Ogilvy  also  wrote 
an  account  of  it  in  his  time,  from  which  we  have  given  extracts.  Thomas 
Ogilvy  died  6th  April,  1802.  Mr  David,  afterwards  Dr,  Cannan,  succeeded. 
He  was  translated  to  Murroes  in  1809,  and  Dr  Thomas  Eastou  succeeded.  He 
wrote  the  new  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish,  and  died  in  1856,  in  his  79tli 
year.  Mr  D.  Ogilvy-Ramsay,  now  at  Closeburn,  succeeded,  and  he  was  fol- 
lowed by  Mr  Boyd,  the  present  minister. 

The  Eev.  Mr  Headrick,  in  his  Agricultural  Report  of  Forfarshire,  says — 
"  This  village  .  .  might  verify  the  verdict  which  was  pronounced  by  an 
Englishman  upon  a  town  in  the  north  that  had  been  represented  to  him  as 
having  been  built  upon  a  very  regular  plan,  '  that  the  only  plan  which  seemed 
to  have  regulated  the  building  of  this  town  was  a  total  defiance  of  all  plan.' 
It  is  a  burgh  of  regality,  where  the  baron  or  his  bailie  formerly  exercised  both 
a  civil  and  a  criminal  jurisdiction.  Since  the  repeal  of  the  heritable  jurisdic- 
tions the  power  of  baron  bailies  is  strictly  limited  to  matters  of  police." 


Chap.  XXXII.]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRKIEMUIR.  97 

It  is  70  years  since  that  description  of  the  town  was  written,  but  even  then 
it  was  a  parody.  INIuch  more  so  does  it  appear  now,  seeing  the  progress 
which  has  been  made  in  late  years,  and  is  still  being  made  to  improve  the 
town.  It  is,  however,  no  easy  matter  to  make  an  old  town  accord  with  modern 
ideas,  as  money  and  time  are  required. 

The  town  of  Kirriemuir,  where  the  Eegality  Courts  of  the  Earls  of  Angus 
were  held  from  time  imm-emorial,  a  burgh  of  barony,  and  a  burgh  under 
the  Lindsay  Act,  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of,  and  well  up  above 
the  valley  of  Strathmore,  but  some  distance  south  of,  and  lower  than  the 
"  Braes  of  Angus."  The  town  is  built  on  the  sloping  ground  wliich  rises  with 
a  steep  ascent  from  the  deep  Den  of  the  Gairie  for  a  considerable  distance  to 
the  north.  'Jlie  Parish  Church  stands  well  up  on  the  rising  ground,  and  in 
early  times  the  town  had  consisted  of  a  straggling  hamlet  around  the  church. 
In  1561  there  were  only  32  inhabited  houses,  and  124  people,  young  and  old, 
and  the  Capon  Croft  was  then  covered  with  heath.  In  1658  the  inhabited 
houses  had  increased  to  41,  and  the  inhabitants  of  all  ages,  167.  In  1748 
there  were  in  the  town  187  families,  and  670  people,  young  and  old.  In  1824 
the  population  of  the  town  and  suburbs  was  3363,  in  1836  it  had  risen  to 
4000,  and  in  1881  it  was  4390. 

Kirriemuir,  as  appears  by  the  figures  given  above,  was  only  a  village  three 
centuries  ago,  and  during  the  following  century  the  increase  was  small.  The 
importance  of  the  town  in  early  times  was  therefore  entirely  due  to  its  connec- 
tion with  the  Earls  of  Angus  and  their  Kegality  Courts,  beyond  which  it  ap- 
pears to  have  no  ancient  history.  The  town  is  indebted  for  the  progress  it  has 
made  in  the  last  and  the  present  centuries  to  the  linen  trade,  and  from  the  enter- 
prise of  the  townsmen  engaged  in  that  and  other  trades  the  future  of  the  town 
is  very  hopeful. 

The  Market  Place  is  a  good  square.  Init  is  the  Town  House,  a  handsome  build- 
ing with  a  massive  tower,  in  which  is  a  clock  illuminated  at  night.  Fronting  the 
square  are  some  good  buildings  occupied  as  bank  and  other  offices,  shops  and 
private  dwellings,  and  a  good  hotel.  From  the  Market  Place  streets  lead  off  in 
several  directions,  but  most  of  them  are  narrow  and  steep.  In  some  places  houses 
project  on  the  streets  where  no  houses  should  be,  but  these  obstructions  are 
being  removed  and  the  streets  widened  as  opportunity  offers.  The  town  has 
now  assumed  a  more  civilized  appearance,  and  become  more  town-like  than 
it  was  when  we  first  saw  it,  more  than  half  a  century  ago. 

Two  large  powerloom  works  are  in  the  Gairie  Den,  and  the  railway  terminus 


98  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

is  there  also.  In  recent  times  a  large  suburb  was  erected,  called  the  South 
Muir,  containing  many  good  houses,  from  which  an  extensive  view  of  Strath- 
more,  the  Sidlaws,  and  other  hills  is  obtained. 

Up  till  the  year  1873  the  municipal  affairs  of  the  burgh  were  managed  by  the 
Baron-Baihe,  who  had  supreme  power  for  weal  or  for  woe.  Duncan  Wilkie,  the 
bailie  then  in  office,  exercised  his  power  wisely,  having  due  consideration  for 
all  parties,  but  the  system  of  government  was  antiquated  and  ill  adapted  for 
the  enlightened  views  of  this  age.  The  community  adopted  the  Lindsay 
Police  Act,  and  set  about  carrying  out  necessary  and  urgently  required  im- 
provements. Chief  among  these  was  the  procuring  an  abundant  supply  of  pure 
water,  the  previous  supply  having  neither  been  sufficient  nor  good.  A  reservoir 
of  upwards  of  two  acres  in  extent  was  formed  on  the  Pearsie  estate,  into  which 
a  number  of  springs  on  the  Clash  were  conducted.  The  reservoir  is  sufficient 
to  store  100,000  cubic  feet,  or  one  million  gallons,  which  is  nearly  one  week's 
supply  for  the  town  at  30  gallons  per  head  per  day.  From  the  reservoir  the 
water  is  conducted  in  pipes  to  a  cistern  behind  the  town,  from  which  it  is  dis- 
tributed. The  8th  November,  1877,  is  a  day  to  be  remembered  in  Kirriemuir, 
as  on  that  day  the  Waterworks  were  opened  by  Mrs  M'Laggan  Wedderburn, 
the  proprietrix  of  Pearsie,  amidst  great  rejoicings.  Since  then  the  water  has  been 
running  pure  and  sweet,  to  the  great  comfort  of  the  good  people  of  Kirriemuir. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  there  is  an  estate  called  Balfour,  the  valua- 
tion of  which  was  £190.  That  property  has  been  long  known  as  Auchlishie, 
and  it  includes  Hillends  and  Eedhall.  The  lands  were  about  the  beginning 
of  this  century  acquired  by  (reorge  Wilkie,  who  was  a  linen  merchant  in 
Dundee  and  Kirriemuir.  In  1822  these  lands,  of  the  same  value  (£190),  be- 
longed to  the  trustees  of  George  Wilkie.  They  are,  and  have  been  for  some 
time,  the  property  of  JMr  Wilkie's  son,  Duncan  Wilkie,  a  writer  in  Kirriemuir, 
and  for  a  long  time  Baron-Bailie  of  that  town. 

Robert  Wilkie  of  New  Barns,  merchant  in  Montrose,  was  a  brother  of 
George  Wilkie  of  Auchlishie.  He  married  Jean  Johnston.  He  died  7th 
January,  1837,  aged  79,  and  she  died  6th  July,  1848,  aged  85  years. 

One  of  the  Scrymgeours,  a  member  of  the  Dudhope  family,  and  a  Magistrate 
of  Dundee,  possessed  the  lands  of  Balinsho  and  Glaswell  in  the  beginning  of 
the  sixteenth  century,  if  not  in  the  end  of  the  previous  one.  Jervise  (L.  of 
L.,  p.  276)  thinks  it  probable  that  the  Ogilvys  succeeded  the  Scrymgeours  in 
Balinsho,  as,  about  1595,  Sir  John  Lindsay  of  Wpodwray,  in  Aberlemno,  or 


Chap.  XXXIL]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.-  KIRRIEMUIR. 


99 


Woodhead,  near  Balinsho,  killed  Ogilvy  of  Balinsho,  and  took  forcible  posses- 
sion of  the  lands.     Douglas,  I.,  p.  380,  says  Sir  John  Lindsay  of  Balinsho  and 
Woodhead  had  charter  to  himself  and  Margaret  Keith,  his  wife,  of  Polgarrith, 
&c.,  on  Ifith  July,  1559.     Being  in  possession  of  Balinsho  at  that  date,  if  not 
before  it,  he  did  not  require  to  take  forcible  possession  of  the  property  after 
killing  Ogilvy  about  1595.     There  appear  to  be  doubts  of  Ogilvy 's  murder, 
as  there  is  no  evidence  of  the  deed  excepting  what  is  said  in  the  Lives  (Vol.  I., 
p.  314).  The  Lindsays  retained  possession  of  Balinsho  for  some  time.  Sir  John, 
son  of  David,  tenth  Earl  ot  Crawford,  is  designed  of  Balinsho  about  1580.    On 
28th  March,  1 628,  Captain  John  Lindsay  of  Woodrae  was  retoured  (No.  172)  as 
heir  to  his  father,  Sir  John  Lindsay  of  Woodrae,  in  the  lands  of  Balinsho, 
Woodhead,  and  Beams— daillfauldis,  with  red  moss,  &c.,  in  the  barony  of  the 
Forest  of  Platane,  A.E.,  50s  ;  N.E.,  £10. 

Sir  John  Lindsay  had  three  sons,  who,  with  their  chief  the  Earl  of  Craw- 
ford, Lord  Spynie,  and  others  in  the  clan  in  like  poor  circumstances  with 
themselves,  left  Scotland  and  went  to  the  Continent  to  talvc  part  in  the  wars 
there,  in  the  hope  of  bettering  their  fortunes.  They  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
celebrated  Gustavus  Adolphus,  and  acted  bravely  in  some  of  the  battles  he 
fought.  The  three  brothers  all  rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  but  they  all  fell 
in  their  adopted  country  before  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  this 
"Land  of  the  Lindsays"  passed  from  them  to  the  Fletchers,  then  of  Eesteneth 
and  Inverpeifer.     (Vol.  IL,  p.  141.) 

The  first  Fletcher  of  Balinsho  was  probably  the  husband  of  the  youngest 
daughter  of  young  Ogilvy  of  Airlie,  who  fell  at  Inverlochy.  On  7th  September, 
1658,  Robert  Fletcher  of  Balinsho,  heir  of  Robert,  his  father,  was  retoured 
(No.  370)  in  same  lands,  as  mentioned  in  the  above  retour  (No.  172),  and  in  other 
lands.  On  1st  May,  1662,  another  Robert  Fletcher  succeeded  his  father,  last 
above  mentioned.  Major  Fletcher  was  laird  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  He  was  also  proprietor  of  Lindertis.  He  was  succeeded  in  both 
estates  by  his  brother,  who  was  locally  known  as  "  the  daft  laird."  (See  Vol. 
II.,  p.  344.)  At  his  death  a  member  of  the  family  of  Wedderburn  of  Ballin- 
dean  bought  both  properties,  and  within  a  few  years  (about  1814)  resold  them 
to  Gilbert  Laing  Meason.  His  son,  Magnus  Gilbert  Laing  Meason,  succeeded 
at  the  death  of  his  father.  His  financial  affairs  became  deranged,  and  Ballin- 
sho  and  Lindertis  were  sold  by  his  creditors,  the  former  to  the  Earl  of  Strath- 
more,  and  the  latter  to  Sir  Thomas  Munro,  Bart.  They  are  the  present  pro- 
prietors. 


100  ANGUS  OR  FORFAE SHIRE.  [Paut  XIV. 

The  Castle  of  Balinslio  was  probably  erected  by  one  of  the  Lindsay  lairds. 
It  stands  well  up  on  the  north  side  of  the  Vale  of  Strathniore,  over  which  it 
commands  a  varied  prospect.  It  has  been  but  a  small  building,  and  although 
a  considerable  part  of  the  walls  are  still  standing,  the  building  is  much  dilapi- 
dated, and  not  habitable.  It  presents  no  striking  feature,  and  is  devoid  of 
beauty.  A  good  walled  park  is  on  the  south  of  the  castle,  which  had  been 
the  garden.  In  it,  and  around  the  castle,  are  some  fine  old  trees,  including 
two  walnut  trees,  than  which  there  are  few  larger  in  the  kingdom. 

The  burying  ground  of  the  Fletchers,  and  probably  of  others  of  the  pro- 
prietors, is  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  not  far  from  the  castle.  It  is  a 
small  square  plot,  surrounded  by  a  wall  now  broken  down  in  some  places,  with  a 
few  trees  inside,  but  it  contains  no  gravestone  or  monument  of  any  kind.  The 
"  stannin'  stane  o'  Benshie"  was  an  object  of  wonder  to  the  natives.  It  stood 
for  untold  ages,  but  about  half  a  century  ago  it  was  blasted  by  gunpowder. 
The  stone  was  supposed  to  have  been  about  twenty  tons  in  weight.  The 
ground  below  where  it  stood  was  examined,  and  a  large  clay  urn,  in  height 
about  three  feet,  and  of  considerable  circumference,  was  found,  in  which  was  a 
quantity  of  human  bones  and  ashes.  The  urn  was  broken  to  pieces,  and  no 
authentic  particulars  regarding  it  or  its  contents  are  preserved,  which  is  un- 
fortunate. 

The  lands  of  Garlowbank  and  others  formed  part  of  the  '•  Earl  of  Strathmore" 
lands  in  1683. 

The  lands  of  G-arlowbank  appear  to  have  belonged  to  the  Lindsays  of  Edzell 
in  the  sixteenth  century,  if  not  earlier.  When  Edzell  was  prosecuted  by  the 
heirs  of  Lord  Spynie,  who  was  slain  in  a  brawl  in  Edinburgh,  to  pacify  them 
he  gave,  in  addition  to  a  large  sum  of  money,  the  lands  of  Garlowbank,  in  this 
parish.  They  may  have  passed  directly  from  the  family  of  Spynie  to  the 
Yeamans,  or  have  been  in  other  intermediate  hands,  but  we  next  find  them  in 
possession  of  that  family. 

On  7th  May,  1678,  Patrick  Yeaman  of  Dryburgh  was  served  heir  to  his 
father  (retour  No.  473),  Master  Patrick  Yeaman  of  Dryburgh,  in  Dryburgh 
and  other  lands,  and  in  the  lands  of  Wester,  Middle,  and  Easter  towns  of 
Garlowbank,  the  town  and  roume  of  Kilhill,  the  Easter  Sandiford,  Longbank, 
the  two  boll  houses,  Drumclunes, 

On  the  division  of  the  property  before  1767,  they  came  into  the  proprietary 
possession  of  Thomas  Lyon,  and  in  superiority  to  John  Brown  of  Glaswell,  the 


Chap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIREIEMUIR.  101 

value  being  £382  5s  lOd.  Part  of  these  lands,  Killiill  and  Garlowbank, 
are  now  included  in  the  Glaswell  trust  estate,  and  part  in  the  estate  of 
Kinnordy. 

Of  the  large  estate  in  name  of  Earl  of  Strathmore  in  1683,  mentioned  abov^e, 
Balmuckety  Mill  and  mill  lands  were  retained  in  property  by  the  Earl.  He 
was  also  the  superior.  In  this  section  Balinsho  was  included,  and  the  pro- 
prietary history  of  it  is  given  above.  The  Earl  continues  proprietor  of  Bal- 
muckety lands,  and  the  superior  of  the  portions  given  off  in  feu.  We  have 
also  given  the  proprietary  history  of  Bailindarg.  In  addition  to  these  the 
Glamis  estate  in  this  parish  includes  the  fine  farm  of  Fletcherfield,  and  a 
large  number  of  others,  which  the  family  have  acquired  from  time  to  time  as 
they  came  into  the  market. 

The  lands  of  Glasswell  were  part  of  the  territory  of  the  Earls  of  Angus  in 
this  county.  They  had  been  acquired  by  the  Grahams  of  Claverhouse  in  the 
fifteenth  century.  On  1st  November,  1513,  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse  re- 
signed several  lands,  and  an  annual  of  23s  4d  furth  of  his  lands  of  Kirriemuir 
(?  Glaswell),  into  the  hands  of  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  superior  thereof,  for 
new  infeftment  to  him  and  Bessie  Strenton,  his  spouse.  The  Grahams  and 
the  Scrymgeours  had  much  intercourse  and  dealings  with  each  other  about 
that  period,  and  subsequently  Glaswell  was  acquired  by  Walter  Scrymgeour. 
On  23d  December,  1536,  letters  of  reversion  were  granted  by  Walter 
Scrymgeour  of  Glasswell  to  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  whereby  for  5  score 
merks  he  binds  himself  to  resign  his  right  of  the  lands  of  Myreton  to  the  said 
John  Graham.  John  Graham  of  Glaswell  is  mentioned  28th  January,  1539, 
and  Walter  Scrymgeour  of  Glasswell  is  mentioned  in  1540. 

In  the  roll  of  1683  Glasswell  and  Tarbirnes  were  united,  the  value  of  both 
being  £520.  Easter  Tarbirnes  followed,  £150.  The  whole  were  subsequently 
called  Glasswell.  Before  1767,  John  Brown  was  designed  of  Glasswell.  On 
14th  July,  1792,  the  estate  was  divided,  and  that  part  on  the  east  side  of  the 
burn  of  Kirriemuir,  value  £280,  was  sold  to  the  laird  of  Kinnordy,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  estate,  value  £390,  belonging  to  Captain  H.  Brown.  In  1822 
it  belonged  to  his  trustees,  and  in  1864  to  Mrs  Jackson.  The  property  of 
Glasswell  is  still  divided  into  two  parts,  of  which  one  belongs  to  George  Hogg 
of  Glasswell.  He  resides  at  Pdchmond,  in  Yorkshire.  The  other  part  was  in 
possession  of  Christopher  Kerr,  and  is  now  in  possession  of  George  A.  Jamieson, 
both  as  judicial  factor. 


102  ANGUS  OR  FOKFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

A  few  years  ago  tlie  Grampian  portion  of  this  parish,  which  had  long  been 
a  mission  station,  and  for  some  time  supplied  with  pulpit  ministrations  and 
other  religions  ordinances  by  the  minister  of  Clova,  was,  owing  to  its  great 
distance  from  the  mother  church,  disjoined  from  Kirriemuir,  and  erected  into 
a  parish  quoad  sacra,  with  a  minister  and  officebearers.  This  is  a  valuable 
boon  to  the  people  residing  within  the  new  parish,  as  they  have  now  stated 
ordinances  regularly  within  their  own  church,  as  in  other  parishes.  The 
parish  is  called  Glenprosen,  and  tliere  is  a  good  church  and  manse,  and  other 
houses  forming  the  hamlet.     (Vol.  III.,  p.  111.) 

The  Clova  estate,  in  the  Highland  district  of  this  parish,  is  a  large  and 
valuable  one,  but  as  we  gave  the  proprietary  history  of  Clova,  and  some 
account  ofBalnaboth,  the  seat  of  Donald  Ogilvy  of  Clova,  in  the  chapter  on 
Cortachy  and  Clova,  Vol.  III.,  p.  109,  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  more  on  the 
parish  or  district. 

We  have  already  (Vol.  I.,  pp.  264  and  419)  given  an  account  of  the  descent 
of  the  Ogilvys  in  the  chapter  on  the  Earls  of  Airlie,  but  in  order  to  make  the 
following  account  of  the  Inverquharity  branch  more  complete,  we  will  shortly 
trace  their  early  progenitors. 

Gilchrist,  the  first  Earl  of  Angus,  who  flourished  in  the  reign  of  Malcolm 
Canmore,  was  the  first  of  the  Maormers  or  Mormaers  (great  maer  or  steward, 
or  great  chief)  of  Angus  who  bore  the  title  of  Earl.  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Gillebride,  the  second  of  Angus,  who  died  about  1180,  leaving  six  sons, 
viz. — Gilchrist,  who  became  third  Earl  of  i^ngus  ;  Magnus,  who  became  Earl 
of  Caithness  ;  Gilbert,  Adam,  William,  and  Angus.  Gilbert,  the  third  son, 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  Ogilvys. 

Gilbert  got  a  charter,  in  which  he  is  described  as  "  Gilbert,  son  of  the  Earl 
of  Angus,"  by  Wilham  the  Lion  "  terrarum  Powrin,  Ogulum,  and  Kyneithin." 
There  are  two  transumpts  of  this  charter  extant,  one  of  which,  dated  14th 
February,  1577,  is  in  the  Fothringham  charter  chest ;  and  the  other,  dated 
26th  July,  1631,  is  in  the  charter  chest  of  Wedderburn  of  Birkhill.  The  first  of 
these  families  is  the  present  proprietor  of  Wester  Powrie,  and  the  second  of  Easter 
Powrie.  The  latter  transumpt,  by  Sir  J.  Hamilton,  of  St  Magdalens,  clerk 
register,  declares  that  the  original  charter  was  torn,  and  in  a  perishing  state 
through  age.  The  original  charter  is  undated,  as  many  of  King  William's 
charters  are,  but  the  best  authorities  adjudge  it  to  be  in  1172.  From  the 
lands  of  Ogilvy  (the  Glen  of  Ogilvy)  the  family  of  Gilbert  assumed  their  sur- 


CnAP.  XXXII]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIKRIEM [JIR.  103 

name,  the  adoption  of  surnames  being  chen  coming  into  use.  These  lands, 
together  with  Easter  Powrie,  passed  down  from  Gilbert  in  an  unbroken  male 
descent  for  a  period  of  nearly  500  years.  The  last  possessor  of  them,  and  the 
last  of  the  family  distinguished  as  that  of  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  or  of  that  illj:, 
chiefs  of  that  name,  was  Thomas  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy,  who  fell  by  the  side  of 
Montrose,  at  the  Battle  of  Corbiesdale.  in  1650.  Tlie  family  muniments  con- 
tain the  names  of  many,  if  not  of  all  the  chiefs  of  the  family  who  were  designed 
of  that  ilk. 

Patrick  Ogilvy,  dominus  ejusdem,  gave  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Wester 
Powrie  to  his  uncle,  Patrick,  and  his  wife.  This  charter  was  confirmed  by 
Alexander  Ogilvy,  lord  of  the  same,  between  the  years  1354  and  1359.  Walter, 
third  Ogilvy  of  Wester  Powrie,  married  Isabella,  the  heiress  of  Sir  Malcolm 
Eamsay  of  Auchterhouse,  hereditary  Sheriff  of  Angus,  at  whose  death,  some- 
where between  1365  and  1379,  he  succeeded  to  Auchterhouse,  and  to  the  heritable 
Sheriffdom  of  Angus.  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  and  Sheriff  of  the 
County,  fell  at  the  Battle  of  Glasclune,  in  1392.     (Vol.  I.,  p.  420.) 

Sir  Walter  left  three  sons,  Alexander,  his  successor,  who  carried  on  the  line 
of  Auchterhouse,  all  the  males  of  which  failed  in  the  second  generation  from 
him,  excepting  those  descended  from  his  second  son.  Sir  Andrew  Ogilvy  of 
Inchmartine,  of  whose  family  were  the  Earls  of  Findlater  of  the  second 
creation. 

The  two  younger  sons  were  Walter  and  John,  in  regard  to  whom,  evidence 
on  the  point  being  wanting,  it  is  a  question  which  was  the  elder.  Walter, 
afterwards  Sir  Walter  of  Lintrathen,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Earls  of  Airlie, 
and,  through  his  second  son,  of  the  first  Earl  of  Findlater  of  the  first  creation. 
John,  the  other  son,  was  the  first  of  Inverquharity. 

James,  first  Earl  of  Findlater,  was  a  descendant  of  the  second  son  of  the 
above-named  Walter  of  Lintrathen.  The  title  was  to  heirs  male  of  his  body, 
and,  as  he  had  no  son,  became  extinct  on  his  death.  His  daughter  married 
Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartine  (Vol.  I.,  p.  423),  for  whom  the  title  of  Find- 
later  was  revived  by  a  fresh  creation  to  heirs  male  general.  This  second  title 
has  been  dormant  since  the  death  of  the  last  Earl  of  Findlater  and  Seafield, 
in  1811. 

Inverquharity  formed  part  of  the  extensive  territories  of  the  ancient  Earls 
of  Angus,  and  they  retained  the  superiority  for  a  long  period.  In  the  reign 
of  King  David  II.  Alexander  Lindsay  received  a  charter  of  the  barony  of 
Inver(juharity  on  the  resignation  of  Margaret  Abernethy,  Countess  of  Angus. 


104  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

(In.  to  Cli.,  52-13).  The  barony  had  probably  passed  from  the  Lindsays  to 
the  fimily  of  Allardice.  About  1405,  Robert  III.  granted  a  charter  of  the 
lands  of  Tnnercarrewchie,  in  the  barony  of  Kirriemuir,  given  by  John 
Allerdes  to  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Calcare  (Carcary)  (do.,  143-91).'  This  Walter 
of  Carcary  was  afterwards  designed  Sir  Walter  of  Lintrathen,  Lord  High 
Treasurer  of  Scotland,  &c.  He  was  a  person  of  great  distinction,  and  of 
large  possessions,  all  self-acquired  through  his  eminent  abihties.  He  died 
in  1440. 

I.  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  first  of  Inverquharity,  received  from  his  brother.  Sir 
Walter  of  Lintrathen,  "  from  the  warmth  of  pure  affection,"  a  gift  of  the 
lands  and  barony  of  Inverquharity,  "  delecto  frater  meo  Johanni  de  Ogilvy," 
on  10th  June,  1420.  Sir  Walter  had  purchased  the  barony  from  John 
Allardice  in  1403,  confirmed  by  Royal  charter  about  1405,  as  related  above. 
On  3d  June,  1420,  Sir  Walter  gave  a  precept  for  infefting  Sir  John  in  the 
lands  of  Inverquharity,  in  the  parish  of  Kirriemuir,  to  be  holden  of  the  Earl 
of  Angus,  superior  thereof,  upon  which  he  got  a  Royal  charter  dated  20th 
June,  1420.  Sir  John  obtained  a  charter  from  William,  Earl  of  Angus, 
delecto  et  ftdeli  consanguineo  et  armigero  suo  Johanni  Ogilvie,  fratri  domini 
Walteri  Ogilvie  de  Lintrethan,  d;c.,  of  the  lands  of  Crieff,  in  the  barony  of 
Kirriemuir,  dated  31st  March,  1422. 

In  an  Inquisition  on  iOth  January,  1410-11,  before  Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy, 
lord  of  Auchterhouse,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  one  of  the  jurors  is  John  of  Ogilvy 
zmderscJiref.  Attestation  dated  at  Forgue,  9th  December,  1433,  by  Alexander 
Guthrie,  deputatus  domini  Walter  senescalle  comitis  palatine  de  Stratherne, 
Atholie,  &c.,  in  reference  to  a  perambulation  of  the  lands  of  Forgue,  which  is 
witnessed  by  nohilibus  viris  Johanni  de  Ogilvy  de  Ennerquharady  subvice 
comite  de  Angus,  Andrea  de  Ogilvy  de  Tnchmartyn^  Alexandro  de  Ogilivy 
filio  et  heres  dicti  Johannus. 

Sir  John  Ogilvy  is  believed  to  have  married  Marion,  a  daughter  of  Sir 
William  Seton.  He  died  between  9th  December,  1432,  and  15th  January, 
1434,  leaving  by  his  wife  three  sons — Alexander,  Avho  succeeded  him ;  Walter, 
who  succeeded  on  the  death  of  his  nephew  ;  and  Thomas  of  Clova. 

II.  Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy,  second  baron  of  Inverquharity,  obtained  from 
Alexander  Seton,  lord  of  Gordon,  apparently  in  free  gift,  a  charter  of  the  lands 
of  Newton,  Hirdhill,  Kinnordy,  Balbredy,  Memys,  and  Easter  Ednachty,  in 
the  barony  of  Kirriemuir,  with  pasture  in  the  Moor  of  Lefty,  dated  15th 
January,  1434,       On  1st  February,  1438,  he  got  from  Alexander  Ogilvy, 


Chap.  XXXIL]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— KIRRIEMUIR.  105 

Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Forfar,  and  lord  of  Auchterhouse,  a  charter  of  the 
lands  of  Over  Kinzalty,  one  third  of  Glenquharity,  and  one  third  of  Coule, 
(Inv-^-  Writs.)  He  also  got  from  Nicholas  Borthwick  the  lands  of  Ladinch, 
Wester  Ednachty,  &c.,  to  him  and  Janet  Towers,  his  wife,  in  excambion  for 
the  lands  of  Barnton,  Edinburghshire,  charter  dated  15th  jSIarch,  1438;  also, 
from  William  Gifford  of  Balnagarroch,  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Little  Migvie. 
dated  1st  April,  1439. 

Cramond,  which  was  some  time  in  the  family  of  Inverquharity,  was  acquired 
through  Alexander's  marriage.  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  and  Robert, 
Master  of  Keith,  were  Sheriff-Deputes  of  Kincardineshire,  28th  May,  1443. 
By  his  wife  Alexander  had  a  son,  John,  who  succeeded  his  flither. 

The  Towers  of  Barnton  were  descended  from  William  Towers  of  Dairy, 
who  married  Eleanor,  Countess  of  Carrick  (widow  of  the  Earl),  and  sister  of 
William,  Earl  of  Douglas.  By  this  marriage  Alexander  left  a  young  family, 
including  one  son,  Alexander.  By  an  indenture  made  at  Auchterhouse,  25th 
September,  1450,  betwixt  Walter  of  Ogilvy  and  Thomas  of  Ogilvy,  brother 
umquhile  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  it  was  agreed  that  they  should 
kepe  ye  deliverance  of  Sir  Andrew  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartin,  knight,  and  Walter 
Ogilvy  of  Beaufort,  regarding  the  keeping  and  tutory  of  Alexander,  yair 
broyer  ayr,  &c. 

This  son  of  Alexander  Ogilvy  died  at  an  early  age,  and  after  the  death  of 
Alexander's  children  Walter  succeeded  to  Inverquharity. 

The  Castle  of  Inverquharity  was  built  by  Alexander  Ogilvy.  It  is  situate 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  South  Esk,  close  by  where  the  small  stream  Carity 
falls  into  that  river,  whence  the  name  Inverquharity,  which  in  old  documents 
is  sometimes  so  spelled,  and  sometimes  Invercarity.  It  is  a  large  and  lofty 
square  tower,  with  a  square  projection  on  one  side,  built  of  hewn  stone,  the 
walls  being  about  nine  feet  in  thickness,  of  four  storeys  in  height,  the  first 
three  consisting  of  one  apartment  each,  and  the  upper  of  two  rooms.  There 
are  double  vaults  below,  and  a  battlement  on  the  top  of  the  walls  of  width 
sufficient  for  three  people  to  walk  abreast.  The  castle  is  in  much  the  same 
style  of  structure,  but  a  wing  having  been  destroyed  by  the  Lindsays,  it  is  not 
in  so  good  preservation  as  the  Castle  of  Aucliinleck,  locally  Affleck,  in  the 
parish  of  Monikie. 

Both  of  these  castles  had  an  iron  gate  or  yett,  but  the  Affleck  yett  disap- 
peared some  years  ago.  At  the  time  these  castles  were  built,  about  the  middle 
of  the  fifteenth  century,  barons  required  a  license  to  erect  a  fortalice  of  this 
o 


106  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV, 

sort.  The  one  for  Inverquharity  is  as  follows : — "  Rex. — Licence  by  the  King 
to  Al.  Ogilvy  of  Innercarity  to  fortify  his  house,  and  put  an  iron  yet  thereon. 
— James,  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  Scottis.  To  all  and  sundrie  oure 
liegies  and  subdits  to  quhais  knowloge  thir  our  Slez  (letters)  sail  cum  gretinge. 
Wit  yhe  vs  to  haue  gevin  ande  grauntit  full  fredome  facultez  and  spele  licence 
to  our  loued  familiare  sqwier,  Alex,  of  Ogilby  of  Innerquharady,  for  to  fortifie  his 
house  and  to  strenth  it  with  ane  Irne  yliet.  Quharfor  we  strictly  bid  and  straitly 
comraaunds  that  naman  tak  on  hande  to  make  him  impediment  stoppinge  na 
distroublace  in  the  makinge  and  vpsettinge  of  the  saide  yliet  in  his  said  house 
vnder  the  payne  and  charge  at  eftir  may  follow.  Gevin  vndir  oure  signet  at 
Streviline,  the  xxv  day  of  September,  ande  of  oure  Regne  the  sevent  yhere." 
(25th  September,  1444).  (King  James  II.)  It  was  this  Alexander  who  com- 
manded the  Ogilvy  Clan  at  the  Battle  of  Arbroath.  The  situation  of  the  castle  is 
finely  chosen,  the  scenery  being  picturesque.  It  is  surrounded  with  large  old 
trees,  and  the  hoary  fortalice  is  still  a  grand  object  in  the  landscape  from 
whatever  point  viewed. 

It  was  Alexander  Ogilvy,  the  second  baron  of  Inverquharity,  who  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Abbot  and  Convent  Justiciary  of  Arbroath,  an  office  which  had 
previously  been  held  by  the  Master  of  Crawford,  afterwards  linown  as  Earl 
Beardie,  or  the  tiger  Earl,  and  which  led  to  the  feud  between  the  Ogilvies  and 
the  Lindsays,  to  the  Battle  of  Arbroath,  to  the  death  of  the  chiefs  of  the  clans  on 
both  sides,  and  to  many  of  their  friends  and  clansmen.  Having  in  Vol.  I.,p.318-9, 
given  a  short  account  of  the  battle,  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  much  about  it  here. 
We  have  not  ascertained  the  number  of  combatants  on  either  side,  but  both  chiefs 
had  no  doubt  mustered  their  whole  clansmen  and  friends,  and  the  opposing 
hosts  must  have  been  large.  On  the  side  of  the  Lindsays  there  were  slain 
about  one  hundred  men,  and  on  the  side  of  the  Ogilvies  there  fell  five  hundred. 
Among  the  killed,  besides  the  two  principals,  were  many  gentlemen  of  note, 
some  of  the  names  of  whom,  as  the  following,  history  has  preserved — iSir  John 
Oliphant,  lord  of  Aberdalgy,  Newtyle,  Turin,  Gallery,  &c. ;  Sir  William 
Forbes  of  Pitsligo  ;  Sir  Alexander  Barclay  of  Gartley  ;  David  of  Aberkedach  ; 
Robert  or  James  Maxwell  of  Tealing ;  Duncan  Campbell  of  Calder ;  William 
Garden  or  Gardyne  of  Borrowfield. 

The  sad  occurrences  which  took  place  in  the  Castle  of  Finhaven  after  the 
battle,  as  related  in  Cronicis  Scotise,  we  have  told  in  VoL  L,  p.  319.  Walter  of 
Ogilvy,  and  Alexander  of  Seton,  Earl  of  Huntly,  son  of  Alexander  Seton  of  Gor- 
don, donor  of  the  lands  to  Inverqaharity,  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  their  horses. 


Chap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  107 

Thomas  Ogilvy,  the  other  brother  of  Alexander  of  luverquharity,  sided  with 
the  Lindsays  against  his  own  clan,  in  consideration  of  which,  and  to  reward 
his  treachery,  the  Earl  of  Crawford  gave  him  a  grant  of  the  lands  of  Clova, 
Water  Esk,  Gortachy,  &c.  This  proceeding  on  the  part  of  Thomas  gave  rise 
to  a  bitter  feud  between  the  houses  of  luverquharity  and  Clova,  which  lasted 
till  26th  March,  1524  (78  years),  when  a  reconciliation  under  remarkable  cir- 
cumstances took  place.  From  Thomas  the  Ogilvys  of  Inshewen,  Barras, 
and  other  families  are  descended.  The  Battle  of  Arbroath  was  fought  on 
Douglas  Muir,  in  the  parish  of  Inverkeilor,  between  13th  and  25th  January, 
1445-6. 

About  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  Ogilvy  of  luverquharity  was 
bailie  of  the  barony  of  Panmure,  the  property  of  the  Maules.     This  is  shown 
by  the  following  paragraph,  taken  from  the  Chamberlain  Rolls.     It   is   in 
Latin.,  and  is  as    follows : — July  6,  1445-6. — "  Computum,    Alexandri  de 
Ogilvy  de  luverquharity,  Ballivi,  baronize  de  Panmure  infra  vice  comitatum 
de  Forfare  existens  per  mortem  quondam  Thome  Mawle  militis  redditum  apud 
Edinburgh  die  Sexto  mensis  julii  anno  millesimo  quadringentesimus  quinto," 
&c.    The  entries  in  the  Chamberlain  Roll  are  cash.     The  Latin  paragraph  is  a 
receipt  of  money,  and  may  be  translated  as  follows  : — ''  The  account  of  Alex- 
ander Ogilvy  of  luverquharity,  bailie  of  the  barony  of  Panmure,  within  the 
Sheriffdom  of  Forfar,  coming  or  emerging  through  the  death  of  the  late  Thomas 
Maule,  a  soldier,  given  up  at  Edinburgh  the   sixth  day  of  the  month  of  July 
in  the  year  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty  five,"  &c.     If  the  account 
had  given  the  L.S.D.  it  would  have  been  clearer. 

A  clansman  of  Ogilvy  of  Inverquarity  of  large  size  was  buried  in  the 
Church  of  Kinnell,  where  his  boots  and  spurs  were  hung  up.  The  boots  have 
long  since  perished,  but  the  spurs,  remarkable  for  their  great  size,  remain  to 
this  day.  There  is  a  gallery  in  the  west  end  of  the  church,  the  stair  to  which 
is  partitioned  off  from  the  body  of  the  church.  On  this  partition  the  spurs 
are  hung.  They  are  in  good  preservation,  and  of  extraordinary  size,  from 
which  we  may  infer  that  their  owner  had  been  a  man  of  large  stature.  The 
respected  minister  of  Kinnell  was  very  willing  to  show  the  spurs  to  anyone 
desirous  to  see  them,  and  they  are  interesting  for  their  size,  venerable  age, 
and  the  associations  connected  with  the  wearer's  death.  (See  chapter  on 
Kinnell.) 

It  appears  from  an  Inquisition  (Perth,  No.  166),  4th  November,  1606,  by 
Sir  John  of  luverquharity,  that  Alexander  Ogilvy,  second  of  Inverquharity, 


108  ANGUS  OE  FOBFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

died  seized  in  the  lands  of  Dunfallande,  Pitnachiruch  (Pitnacreich),  Clock 
Sollench,  and  Balcachane  in  the  Earldom  of  Athole,  N.E.  £5  10s,  A.B.  £22, 
which  lands,  it  appears  from  a  record  in  the  Register  Office,  had  remained  in 
non-entry  since  Alexander  Ogilvj's  death  in  December,  1446. 

III.  Walter  Ogilvy,  second  son  of  John,  and  brother  of  Alexander,  suc- 
ceeded on  the  death  of  his  nephew  as  third  baron  of  Inverquharity,  His 
succession  to  the  property  took  place  some  time  between  25th  September, 
1450,  and  6th  February,  1457.  He  died  in  1481,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son, 

IV.  John  Ogilvy,  fourth  baron  of  Inverquharity.  He  obtained  from  King 
James  III.  a  charter  under  the  great  seal,  confirming  to  him  the  three 
charters  before  mentioned,  and  the  whole  lands  and  barony  of  Inverquharity, 
including  Crieff,  Newton,  Herdhill,  &c.,  dated  4th  February,  1482.  He  got 
another  charter  from  the  King  to  him  and  ]\Iargaret  Rattray,  his  wife,  daugh- 
ter of  Rattray  of  that  ilk,  of  the  lands  of  Middleton  of  Ogilvy,  Handwick, 
&c.,  dated  23d  August,  1487.  By  her  he  had  two  sons,  David  his  heir,  and 
Thomas. 

In  the  accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  for  1493,  the  sum  of  ix.  lib. 
is  charged  for  the  relefe  of  the  lands  of  Clovay  be  Thomas  Ogilvy  fp.  207).  In 
1494-95,  Item,  ane  composicione  of  the  escheate  landis  of  Thomas  Ogilvy  of 
Clowa,  and  David  Ravin  of  Colzemeye,  to  John  OgQby  of  Fingask,  and  John 
Ogilbie  of  Innerquharite ;  composicia,  ij .  markis. 

V.  David  Ogilvy,  fifth  baron  of  Inverquharity,  succeeded  to  the  estate,  &c., 
on  the  death  of  his  father.  In  his  time  the  family  feud  was  continued,  and 
there  were  constant  frays  between  the  retainers  of  Inverquharity  and  Clova. 
His  castle  was  attacked  by  the  Lindsays  and  the  Clova  Ogilvies,  but  we  do 
not  know  the  date,  and  it  is  supposed  that  a  wing  of  the  castle  was  then  des- 
troyed. This  turbulent  spirit  was  continued  so  long,  and  became  so  injurious 
to  both  belligerents  and  their  clansmen,  that  the  friends  of  both  interposed. 

It  was  then  agreed  that  friends  mutually  chosen  as  arbiters  by  both  parties 
should  adjust  all  their  differences.  The  arbiters  were  James,  Lord  Ogilvy ; 
Anthony  Ogilvie,  parson  of  Inchbraikie  ;  Sir  John  Melville  of  Raith,  Patrick 
Ogilvy  of  Inchmartin,  William  Ochterlouy  of  that  ilk,  Thomas  Erskine  of 
Haltoun,  and  James  Fenton  of  Ogil.  These  parties  having  adjusted  all  their 
differences,  an  indenture  "  betwix  right  honourable  and  worshipful  men,  David 
Ogilvie  of  Inverquharite  for  himself,  his  heirs,  successors,  kin  and  friends  on 
the  ane  part ;  and  Thomas  Ogilvie  of  Clova,  for  himself,  his  heirs,  successors, 


Chap.  XXXII]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIERIEMUIR.  109 

kin,  and  friends  on  the  toder  part ;"  whereby  ''  they  swear  .  .  .  under 
the  pain  of  eternal  damnation  to  their  souls,  that  they  remits  the  rancour  of 
their  hearts  to  others,"  and  "  shall  live  in  a  band  of  perpetual  kindness,  concord, 
luf,  and  charity  in  times  coming,"  (fee,  (fee,  &c.  1  hey  bound  themselves 
severally  by  their  great  oaths  upon  the  Holy  Evangels  and  crucifix  touched, 
&c.,  to  act  up  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  indenture.  "  The  same  being 
given  under  their  signets  and  subscriptions  named,"  and  of  their  respective 
eldest  sons,  "John  and  James,"  in  the  presence  of  seven  "  right  honourable 
and  worshipful  men  whose  names  are  given,"  and  "  oder  divers."  "  These 
things  were  done  att  the  water  side  of  Prosen,  as  in  a  free  and  patent  place  to 
both  parties  betwix  Innercarity  and  Cortachy,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon on  the  26th  day  of  March,  1524  years." 

David  Ogilvy  married  Norrie,  descended  of  an  ancient  family  of  that 

name  in  Dumbartonshire,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  John,  his  apparent  heir, 
who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Guthrie  of  Kincaldrum, 
(fee,  by  Margaret  Lyon,  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  John,  fifth  Lord  Ghimis  (who 
was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Flodden,  9th  September,  1513),  by  whom  he  had  a 
son, 

VL  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  kniglit,  sixth  baron  of  Inverquharity,  who  succeeded 
on  the  death  of  his  grandfather.  He  married  Elizabeth  Fothringham, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie,  by  whom  he  had  apparently  two 
sons,  Patrick  and  John,  and  a  daughter,  Marian,  married  to  James  Maule  of 
Melgund,  son  of  Henry  Maule  of  InverpefFer,  son  of  Robert  Maule  of  Panmure. 
Sir  John  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  hastening  on  the  Reformation  from  Popish 
thraldom,  and  in  establishing  the  new  and  better  faith.  In  1559  Sir  John 
Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  Superintendent  Erskine  of  Dun,  and  Scott  of  Abbots- 
hall  were  deputies  sent  by  the  Congregationalists  to  meet  with  the  Queen 
Regent  to  endeavour  to  bring  about  an  arrangement  with  her,  and  thus  pre- 
vent the  bloodshed  which  would  follow  if  she  persisted  in  her  attempts  to 
suppress  the  progress  of  the  Protestant  cause.  (Guthrie's  His.,  Vol.  IV.,  p. 
58.)  Sir  John  sat  in  the  Parliament  which  met  in  Edinburgh  in  1560,  and 
which  drew  up  and  promulgated  the  famous  Protestant  Declaration  of  Faith. 
He  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  to  him  and  his  spouse,  of  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Inverquharity,  Wester  Ednachty,  <fec.,  dated  23d  February,  1541. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

VII.  Patrick  Ogilvy,  seventh  baron  of  Inverquharity.  He  had  a  charter 
under    the    Great    Seal,   to   Patrick   Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,    "  terrarum 


no  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Dominuhalum  de  Drummy  vie  Perth,"  dated  1548.     He  appears  to  have  died 
unmarried  at  an  early  age,  and  to  have  been  succeeded  by  his  brother, 

Vlir.  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  knight,  eighth  baron  of  Inverquharity.  In  1559 
he  married  Helen  Ogilvy,  sister  of  James,  fifth  Lord  Ogilvy,  and  daughter  of 
James,  Master  of  Ogilvy  (killed  at  Pinkie  in  1547),  by  his  wife  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Campbell  of  Calder,  progenitor  of  the  Earls  of  Cawder. 
Catherine  mari-ied,  secondly.  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  Edzell,  progenitor  by  her  of 
the  Earls  of  Balcarres.  By  Helen  Ogilvy,  Sir  John  had  two  sons,  John,  his 
heir,  and  James  of  Kescobie,  who  had  a  daughter,  Isobella,  who  was  served 
heir  "  Magestri  Jacobie  Ogilvie  filii  legitimi  Domini  Johannes  Ogilvie  de 
Inverquharitie,  militis,  patris  in  terrarum  moleudini  de  Rescobie  cum  Molen- 
dinis  et  Multurisin  regalitatede  Rescobie  ;"  and  two  daughters,  Janet,  married 
to  Donald  Farquharson  of  Finzean,  second  son  of  Findlae  Mhor,  who  was  killed 
bearing  the  Royal  standard  at  the  Battle  of  Pinkie.  By  Janet,  Donald  had 
seven  sons,  all  founders  of  families  of  the  clan  Farquharson  ;  and  Catherine, 
married  to  David  Sibbald  of  Lethen,    Sir  John  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

IX.  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  knight,  ninth  baron  of  Inverquharity.  On  21st 
October,  1587,  he  was  served  heir  (retour  547)  to  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inver- 
quharity, knight,  his  grandfather,  in  the  sunny  third  part  of  the  town  of 
"Wester  Glenquharitie  and  Ballintore  and  other  lands  in  the  parish  of  Lin- 
trathen.  On  3d  May,  1589,  he  was  served  heir  to  the  same  in  an  annual 
redditu  of  £86  13s  4d,  tanquam  parti  annul  redditus280  m.  de  terres  de  Halk- 
hill..  Newtoun,  Dunbartner,  et  denudicate  molendini.  &c.,  &c.,  in  the  barony 
of  Lunan.  On  4th  November,  1606,  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  heir 
of  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  fratris  tritavi,  in  the  lands  of  Dun- 
fallandi,  Pitnacreich,  Clocksollench,  and  Balcachane,  in  the  Earldom  of 
Athole.  This  John  would  therefore  be  sixth  in  descent  from  Walter  Ogilvy, 
brother  of  the  said  Alexander,  and  which  accords  with  the  generation  of  the 
John  who  was  ninth  of  Inverquharity.  On  21st  February,  1588,  Sir  John 
took  out  a  remission  for  the  slaughter  of  John  Lindsay  of  Blairfeddan.  His 
death  was  revenged  by  the  death  of  Ogilvy  of  Ballinsho,  by  John  Lindsay, 
brother  of  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  who  possessed  himself  of  the  lands  of  his 
enemies.     As  already  mentioned  it  is  doubtful  if  Ogilvy  was  so  slain. 

In  1 591  Sir  John  entered  into  a  contract  of  maintenance  with  James,  Lord 
Ogilvy,  his  cousin,  whereby  for  the  love  and  favour  which  he  bore  to  said  noble 
lord  and  his  house,  of  the  which  he  is  laitly  descejided  through  his  mother, 
Helen  (See  Vol.  III.),  he  gives  the  bond  of  Manrent  and  service  to  the  said 


Chap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES,— KIRRIEMUIR.  Ill 

noble  lord,  reserving  his  duty  to  the  Earl  of  Angus,  from  whom  he  holds  his 
lands. 

According  to  Douglas,  Sir  John  married  Elizabeth  Ogilvy,  by  whom  he  had 
no  children.  John,  afterwards  Sir  John,  sou  of  James,  second  son  of  Sir  John, 
sixth  baron,  married  his  cousin  Matilda,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringham  of 
Powrie.  Date  of  contract,  1586  ;  and  this  John,  the  nephew,  is  made  the  suc- 
cessor of  Sir  John,  his  uncle.  This  is  manifestly  wrong.  Perhaps  Sir  John 
was  twice  married.     He  appears  to  have  had  a  son  and  successor, 

X.  John  Ogilvy,  tenth  baron  of  Inverquharity,  who  was  created  a  baronet 
of  Nova  Scotia,  with  remainder  to  his  heirs  male,  2Gth  Sept.,  162G. 

On  3d  October,  1618,  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  heir  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy 
of  Inverquharity,  militi  pafris,  had  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  sunny 
third  part  of  the  lauds  and  town  of  Wester  Glenquharity  and  Ballintoir,  with 
mill  and  mill  lands  in  the  barony  of  Lintrathen  (same  as  the  previous  John, 
from  which  it  would  appear  that  this  John  was  his  son.     Bal.  MS.,  7-4). 

January  8th,  1622,  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  heir  of  John  Ogilvy  of 
Inverquharity,  "  ave  in  annus  reditu  90  m.  de  terres  et  piscarus  de  Monyfurth 
(?  Monifieth)  in  regalitie  de  Kerimure." 

Sir  John  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Irvine  of  Drum,  by  the 
Lady  Marion  Douglas,  his  wife,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Buchan,  Her  sister 
Margaret  married  George,  fifth  Lord  Bamff,  whose  daughter,  Helen,  married 
the  second  Earl  of  Airlie.     By  Anne,  Sir  John  had  issue, 

1,  Alexander,  who  at  an  early  age  joined  the  armies  of  Montrose,  and 
fought  at  the  Battles  of  Brechin,  Kilsyth,  and  PhiHphaugh,  where  he  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  was  tried  by  the  Committee  of  Estates,  condemned  to 
death,  and  executed  at  Glasgow,  along  with  Sir  Philip  Nesbit,  younger  of 
Nesbit,  25th  October,  1646,  Of  this  Alexander,  eldest  son  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy 
of  Inverquharity,  contemporary  historians  write  in  the  highest  terms.  He 
was  comely  in  person,  and  though  but  a  youth  of  scarce  eighteen  years  of  age, 
was  already  loaded  with  honours,  having  displayed  a  genius  for  courage  and 
magnanimity  far  beyond  his  years.  He  vvas  the  second  person  brought  to  the 
scaffold.  The  historian  adds — "  But  it  seems  it  was  necessary  to  sacrifice  this 
intrepid  young  man  to  gratify  the  enmity  of  Argyle,  who  was  the  inveterate 
and  implacable  enemy  of  the  name  and  family  of  Ogilvy." 

2,  David,  who  succeeded  him.  3,  George  of  Lunan,  and  tutor  of  Inver- 
quharity, who  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Francis  Ogilvy,  Kt.  of  New  Grange, 
grandson  of  James,  fifth  Lord  Ogilvy,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  John  Ogilvy  of 


112  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part,  XLY. 

Lunan  and  Balbegno,  wliich  latter  he  acquired  by  marriage  with  a  daughter  of 
Middleton  of  Balbegno.  4,  Helen,  married  to  Sir  William  Ogilvy,  Bart,  of 
Barras.     5,  Anne,  married  to  David  Ogilvy  of  Clova. 

XI.  Sir  David  Ogilvy,  second  baronet,  and  eleventh  baron  of  Inverquharity. 
In  1662  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Erskine  of  Dun,  and  by 
her  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters — John,  his  heir,  Captain  David, 
Charles,  and  Alexander  ;  Anne,  married  first  to  her  cousin,  James  Ogilvy  of 
Kinnell,  and  secondly,  to  Gilbert  Auchinleck  of  that  ilk,  and  had  issue  by 
both;  Mary,  married  to  William  Gray  of  Turf  beg,  and  had  issue;  Isabella 
died  unmarried.     On  his  death  he  was  succeeded  by 

XII.  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  third  baronet,  and  twelfth  of  Inverquharity.  He 
married,  in  1697,  Margaret,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  James  Ogilvy  of  Cluny, 
by  whom  he  had  a  numerous  family,  most  of  whom  died  young.  Her  niece, 
Margaret,  elder  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  David  Ogilvy  of  Cluny,  was  married 
to  the  fourth  Earl  of  Airlie,  and  carried  with  her  the  lands,  castle,  and  loch  of 
Cluny.     He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

XIII.  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  fourth  baronet,  and  thirteenth  of  Inverquharity. 
He  married,  first,  in  1720,  Helen,  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Mercer  of  Aldie 
and  Meiklour,  Perthshire,  by  whom  he  had  issue,  four  sons  and  a  daughter — 
1st,  John,  who  succeeded  ;  2d,  David,  who  fought  at  Culloden  with  the  13th 
Regiment,  which  he  subsequently  commanded  many  years.  He  became  a 
Brigadier-General,  and  died.  Governor  of  the  Island  of  St  Eustatia,  30th  May, 
1781 ;  3d,  Thomas,  who  also  fought  at  Culloden,  but  on  the  side  of  Charles 
Edward  Stewart,  and  he  subsequently  entered  the  French  service  as  "  Cap- 
taine  en  second"  in  the  newly  raised  Regiment  "  de  Ogilvy,"  commanded  by 
Lord  Ogilvy.  His  commission  was  signed  by  Louis  XV.  4th,  James,  died 
in  India.  He  married,  secondly,  Anne,  daughter  of  James  Carnegie  of  Fin- 
haven  (of  the  Northesk  family),  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Charles,  and  two 
daughters.  Anne,  married  the  Rev.  Charles  Boberts ;  and  Violet  died  un- 
married.    His  eldest  son, 

XIV.  Sir  John,  succeeded  as  fifth  baronet,  and  fourteenth  and  last  of  Inver- 
quharity, which  he  sold  about  1790-95.  He  served  a  few  years  in  "the 
Greys,"  and  was  wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Vals,  in  Flanders.  In  1754  he 
married  Charlotte,  elder  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Walter  T  ullidelph,  LL.  D .,  of  Bal- 
dovan  and  Balgay,  and  estates  in  the  Island  of  Antigua,  descended  from  and  last 
male  representative  of  the  old  Aberdeenshire  family  of  TuUidelph  of  Tullidelph. 
Her  younger  sister,  Mary,  who  got  Balgay,  married  Lieut.-General  the  Hon, 


Chap.  XXXII.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- KIRRIEMUIR.  113 

Alexander  Leslie.  The  continuation  of  the  account  of  the  Inverquharity 
Ogilvys  will  be  given  in  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  ]\Iains  and  Strathmartine. 
Above  we  have  given  an  account  of  the  Ogilvys  of  Inverquharity,  and  the 
proprietary  history  of  the  property  up  to  the  period  when  it  was  sold  to  Charles 
Lyell,  the  ancestor  of  the  present  proprietor.  The  castle  has  already  been 
described.  With  the  exception  of  the  wing  destroyed  by  the  Lindsays,  the 
castle  walls  are  still  wonderfully  entire,  and  the  hewn  stone  of  which  the  outer 
walls  are  built,  is  as  clean  and  the  joints  and  corners  as  perfect  as  if  the 
masons  had  only  now  finished  the  erection  of  the  castle.  It  is  still  a  noble 
and  imposing  structure,  and  the  trees  by  which  it  is  surrounded  appear  to  be 
nearly  co-existent  in  age  with  the  castle.  The  iron  grated  door  still  does  duty 
at  the  castle  by  debarring  the  entrance  of  strangers,  and  preventing  tlie  exit  of 
pigs  and  other  farming  live  stock,  which  are  now  the  sole  occupants  of  what 
was  once  the  noble  baronial  mansion  of  the  Ogilvys.  We  thought  that  when 
Sir  John  Ogilvy  sold  the  estate  he  would  not  fail  to  preserve  to  the  family  the 
old  house  from  which  their  title  was  assumed,  but  Sir  John,  the  present  excel- 
lent Baronet  of  Inverquharity,  told  us  that  castle  and  all  went,  not  a  stone,  or 
tree,  or  yard  of  earth  being  reserved  to  the  old  stock. 

The  lands  of  Carcary,  in  the  parish  of  Farnell,  were  long  farmed  by  a  flimily 
of  Lyells.  One  of  these,  who  appears  to  have  been  John,  who  succeeded  his 
father,  Charles,  in  Carcary,  and  died  on  13th  September,  1736,  aged  31  years, 
had  a  son,  Charles,  born  of  Margaret  Mudie,  his  wife,  in  1734.  He  was  bred 
a  merchant  in  Montrose,  and  thereafter  became  secretary  to  the  Admiral  and 
Paymaster  on  board  one  of  H.M.  ships  during  the  time  of  the  American  War 
and  on  the  China  Station.  H  e  acquired  a  fortune,  returned  home,  and  bought  the 
lands  of  Kinnordy  and  Inverquharity  from  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  Bart,  of  Inver- 
quharity, as  well  as  other  lands,  about  1790-95.  He  married  Mary  Beale, 
Westlooe,  Cornwall,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Charles  Lyell  of  Kinnordy,  bom 
7th  March,  1769,  and  two  daughters.  He  died  19th  January,  1796,  aged  62, 
and  she  died  16th  May,  1813,  aged  71  years.  Charles  Lyell  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  also  Charles,  who  was  educated  at  Cambridge  University,  with 
honours  at  S.  Peter  s  College,  and  was  an  eminent  botanist  and  Italian  scholar. 
He  married,  11th  October,  1796,  Frances,  daughter  of  Thomas  Smith,  of 
lilaker  Hall,  Swaledale,  Yorkshire.  He  died  8th  November,  1849,  aged  80, 
and  she  died  4th  March,  1850,  aged  75  years,  leaving  issue  three  sons  and 
five  daughters. 
P 


114  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Charles  Lyell,  the  eldest  son  of  the  last  mentioned  Charles,  succeeded  to  Kin- 
nordy  on  the  death  of  his  father.  He  was  born  at  Kinnordy,  14th  November, 
1797,  and  married,  12th  July,  1732,  Mary  EHzabeth,  a  daughter  of  Leonard 
Horner.  He  was  one  of  the  most  celebrated  geologists  of  his  time,  and  sought 
to  learn  the  earth's  history  from  herself,  then  told  it  to  his  fellows.  For" his 
eminence  in  the  science  he  was  knighted  by  Her  Majesty,  at  Balmoral,  in 
1848,  and  created  a  baronet  in  1864. 

Sir  Charles  graduated  with  honours  at  Exeter  College,  Oxford,  B.A.,  1819  ; 
M.A.,  1821 ;  and  was  made  an  honorary  D.C.L.,  1855.  He  was  a  J.P.  and 
D.L.  for  Forfarshire.  He  was  twice  President  of  the  Koyal  Geological  Society, 
and  the  author  of  several  standard  works. 

Sir  Charles  died  at  London,  22d  February,  1875,  and  was  buried  in  West- 
minster Abbey.  Sir  Charles  left  no  male  issue,  and  as  the  patent  of  the 
baronetcy  was  limited  to  heirs  male  of  his  own  body,  the  title  became  extinct 
at  his  death.  Lieut.-Col.  Henry  Lyell,  next  brother  to  Sir  Charles,  married,  in 
1848,  Katharine,  also  a  daughter  of  Leonard  Horner,  and  died  in  1875,  leaving 
issue — Leonard,  born  1850,  Francis  Horner,  Arthur  Henry,  and  Rosamond. 
The  other  brother  of  Sir  Charles,  Lieut.  Thomas  Lyell,  K.N.,  resided  at  Shielhill, 
a  romantic  spot  on  the  right  bank  of  the  South  Esk,  to  the  eastward  of  Kirrie- 
muir, the  property  of  Miss  S.  Gr.  Lyell,  where  he  died  in  1871. 

On  the  death  of  Sir  Charles  Lyell  he  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew,  Leonard 
Lyell,  now  of  Kinnordy,  and  Pitmuies  in  the  parish  of  Kirkden,  the  proprietary 
history  of  which  is  given  in  the  chapter  on  that  parish.  In  1874  he  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  the  Eev.  John  Mayne  Stirling,  rector  of  Mangerville,  and 
has  issue,  a  son,  Charles  Henry,  born  1875.  He  succeeded  to  Pitmuies  on 
the  death  of  his  relative,  John  Mudie  of  Pitmuies. 

The  following  are  the  armorial  bearings  of  Sir  Charles  Lyell,  taken  from 
Debrett's  Illustrated  Baronetage : — 

Arms — Or,  a  cross  parted  in  fretty  azure,  between  four  crosses  patee  gules,  a  bordure  en- 
grailed of  the  last. 

Crest — Upon  a  rock  a  dexter  cubit  arm  erect  in  armour  proper,  charged  with  a  cross 
parted  and  fretty  gules. 

Motto — Forti  non  ignavo  (the  brave  and  not  the  coward). 

The  lands  of  Kinnordy  include  the  barony  of  Inverquharity,  as  they  were 
all  included  in  the  purchase  of  Inverquharity  made  by  Charles  Lyell  frooi 
Sir  John  Ogilvy,  as  already  stated, 


Chap.  XXXIL]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  115 

The  mansion  house  of  Kinnorcly  is  aboat  two  miles  north-west  of  Kirrie- 
muir, on  a  pleasant  site,  with  many  large  trees  around,  and  protected  from 
northern  blasts  by  rising  ground,  forming  the  front  ranges  of  the  Braes  of  Angus. 
The  old  house  was  a  commodious  mansion,  but  the  present  proprietor  has  made 
large  alterations  and  extensive  additions  to  it,  and  when  the  operations  are 
completed  it  will  be  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the  county  of  Angus;  and 
there  are  now  many  noble,  imposing,  and  beautiful  baronial  mansions  in  it 
which  will  compare  favourably  with  those  in  any  other  county  in  Scotland. 

The  Loch  of  Kinnordy  was  at  a  short  distance  south-west  of  the  house. 
When  entire  it  was  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  upwards  of  a  mile  in  length,  by 
half  as  much  in  breadth,  and  abounded  in  perch  and  pike  and  a  variety  of 
large  silver-coloured  eel.  It  was  drained  by  Sir  John  Ogilvy  nearly  150  years 
ago  for  its  shell  marl,  a  great  depth  of  wliich  it  contained,  then  much  used  for 
agricultural  purposes. 

The  site  of  the  loch  is  now  a  marsh,  in  which  grow  coarse  grass,  reeds,  and 
other  marsliy  plants,  entirely  devoid  of  beauty,  and  noxious  rather  than  salu- 
brious or  pleasing  to  the  eye.  The  Gairie  rivulet  flows  from  this  marsh,  near 
to  two  verdure  covered  hillocks,  one  of  which  was  called  "  the  house  of  the 
loch,"  by  the  Kev.  George  Ogilvy,  then  minister  of  Kirriemuir,  who  wrote  an 
account  of  the  parish  in  1748.  It  had  been  raised  upon  a  foundation  of  loose 
stones  dropped  systematically  into  the  water  in  a  circular  form,  their  stability 
being  secured  by  oak  piles  placed  around  them.  In  the  beginning  of  this 
century  a  canoe  was  discovered  near  "  the  house,"  the  length  being  fully  eleven 
feet,  by  three  in  breadth,  hollowed  out  of  an  oak  tree.  It  is  kept  in  Kinnordy 
house.  A  hand  bell  and  other  ancient  things  were  found  in  the  neighbourhood. 

There  is  nothing  known  of  the  appearance  of  "  the  house  of  the  loch,"  or 
castle,  as  it  should  probably  be  called,  nor  of  the  builder  or  its  original  occa- 
pants.  That  the  erection  was  of  great  antiquity  is  evident,  judging  from  the 
Kev.  Mr  Ogilvy 's  account  of  it.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Celtic  Maormers  or 
Earls  of  Angus  were  proprietors  of,  and  had  close  connection  with  the  district  of 
Kirriemuir  nearly,  if  not  quite,  a  thousand  years  ago  ;  but,  though  this  is  so, 
there  is  nothing  known  about  their  residence,  although  there  is  little  doubt 
they  must  have  had  one.  I  think  it  very  probable  that  the  Castle  of  the  Loch 
was  their  castle  and  place  of  abode. 

The  Stormonths  have  possessed  Lednathie  for  the  last  two  centuries.  The 
property  was  in  former  times  called  Edinachtie,  Ednaughtie,  and  Ednaughty. 


IIG  ANGUS  OE,  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

It  is  situated  in  Glenprosen,  and  was  at  one  time  part  of  the  estate  of  Sir  John 
Ogilvy  of  Inverquhavit3^  In  1648  Sir  John  gave  it  in  wadset  to  James 
Farquharson  in  Glenisla,  who  in  1G83  transferred  it  to  the  Stormonths.  The 
wadset  or  bond  over  the  property  was  not  converted  into  an  absolute  right 
until  1710,  when  Sir  James  Kinloch,  who  hj  that  time  had  come  into  the 
place  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  conveyed  the  property  irredeemably  to  James  Stor- 
month  in  Balhntore,  son  of  the  first  Stormonth  of  Lednathie.  He  must,  how- 
ever, have  been  settled  in  the  place  many  years  previously,  there  being  pre- 
served in  the  present  house  of  Lednathie  a  stone  taken  out  of  the  old  house, 
bearing  the  date  1G88,  and  the  letters  J.S.  J.L.,  separated  by  a  heart,  for  James 
Stormonth  and  Jean  Lyell,  his  spouse. 

Following  them  were  two  James  Stormontlis,  the  latter  of  whom  lived  to  a 
long  age.  He  was  a  well  known  member  of  the  legal  profession  in  Edinburgh, 
and,  never  having  been  married,  at  his  death  in  1817  the  property  passed  to 
James  Stormonth  Darling,  W.S.,  born  1799,  who  was  a  grandson  of  his 
younger  brother,  Patrick  Stormonth.  The  new  laird  greatly  improved  the 
beauty,  amenity,  and  value  of  the  estate  by  judicious  planting  and  in  other  ways. 
He  was  for  nineteen  years  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  burgh  of  barony  of  Kelso, 
and  died  in  186G,  and  was  buried  in  the  cloisters  of  Kelso  Abbey.  His  son, 
James  Stormonth  Darling,  W.S.,  succeeded  to  the  estate,  to  which  he  added 
the  adjoining  lands  of  Glen  Uig,  bought  from  Ogilvy  of  Inshewan,  and  also 
part  of  the  lands  of  Ballintore,  the  whole  forming  a  good  estate. 

James  S.  Darling  was  educated  at  the  High  School  and  University  of  Edin- 
burgh, was  a  member  of  the  General  Council  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh, 
and  a  Justice  of  Peace  for  Edinburgh.  He  died  early  in  January  in  the  year 
1881,  and  is  succeeded  in  Lednathie  and  the  other  properties  by  his  brother 
John  Forrester  Stormonth,  now  of  Lednathie. 

Much  of  the  land  around  Kirriemuir  belonged  to  the  Earls  of  Angus.  In 
1272  Gilbert  de  Umphraville,  Earl  of  Angus,  gave  to  Adam  Wishart,  third 
son  of  John  Wishart,  Sheriff  of  the  Mearns,  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Ballin- 
darg  and  Logic,  in  this  parish,  which  John  Blund  possessed,  Kobert  II.  con- 
firmed the  grant  by  a  Crown  charter  dated  13th  July,  1280,  in  which  he  is 
styled  "  Adam  Wyschard,  filius  Joannis." 

These  lands  were  to  be  held  by  Adam  and  his  heirs  in  feu,  with  common 
pasture  in  the  granter's  forest  of  Lyffeden,  and  the  privilege  of  taking  from  the 
said  forest  a  sufficient  quantity  of  wood  for  the  erection  of  buildings  upon  the 


Chap.  XXXIL]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRRIEMtJIR.  117 

said  lands  as  often  as  it  shall  be  necessary ;  for  rendering  to  the  granter  and  his 
foresaids  two  sparrow  hawks,  or  two  shillings,  at  the  Assumption  of  St  Mary, 
and  to  the  King  the  forensic  service  pertaining  to  two  davachs  of  land  in  the 
feu  of  Kerymore.     (Douglas  charters.) 

In  1279  Adam  received  from  William  Abbot  of  Arbroath  a  charter  of  the 
lands  of  Kenny-Murchardyn,  or  Kennyneil,  in  the  parish  of  Kingoldrum.  From 
him  descended  the  house  of  Wishart  of  Logie  Wishart,  or  Wisharts  of  that 
ilk.  The  Wisharts  remained  in  uninterrupted  possession  of  the  lands  in 
Kirriemuir  until  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  (H.  of  0.  of  S.,  479. 
Mem.  of  Geo.  Wishart,  p.  76.)  Gilbert  Wishart,  eldest  son  of  Adam,  did 
fealty  to  Edward  I.  at  Elgin  on  the  24th  July,  1296.  He  was  chief  of  the 
Angus  Wisharts. 

It  is  probable  that  John  Wyshert,  who  on  12th  April,  1378,  received  from 
the  Privy  Council  of  England  a  passport  authorising  him  to  proceed  from 
Scotland  to  the  University  of  Oxford  for  study,  belonged  to  the  family  of 
Ballindarg  and  Logie.  In  1409  Alexander  Wisliart  was  at  an  inquest  regard- 
ing the  lands  of  Kenny  Meikle.  In  a  charter  of  these  lands  by  Malcolm, 
Abbot  of  Arbroath,  in  1466,  John,  son  of  John  Wishart  of  Logie,  is  named. 
In  1526  John  Wishart  succeeded  his  father,  Alexander,  in  Kennyneil.  On 
22d  October,  1530,  he  obtained  a  precept  of  a  charter  of  Logie  Wishart, 
Ballindarg  Wester,  and  other  lands. 

On  31st  July,  1538,  James  V.  granted  a  protection  to  John  Wishart  of 
Logie  Wishart,  and  Christian  Ogilvy,  his  spouse,  with  John,  Alexander, 
Katherine,  and  Christian,  their  sons  and  daughters,  and  William,  brother  to 
the  said  John,  and  to  their  lands  and  goods.  John  AVishart  resigned  his  lands 
to  James  V.  on  the  forfeiture  of  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  superior  of  Logie 
Wishart,  and  on  22d  May,  1540,  he  received  a  charter  of  Logie  Wishart  and 
other  lands.  He  obtained  a  Royal  charter  erecting  his  whole  lands  into  a 
barony,  to  be  styled  "  The  barony  of  Wishart,"  and  a  letter,  dated  14th 
October,  1540,  whereby  the  King's  right  to  the  said  barony  was  discharged. 
This  branch  were  thereafter  known  as  the  Wisharts  of  that  ilk.  G  eorge,  a 
younger  son  of  John  Wishart  of  that  ilk,  became  a  burgess  and  a  magistrate 
of  Dundee.  On  28th  October,  1563,  he  obtained  a  precept  of  a  charter  con- 
firming him  in  the  superiority  of  certain  lands  in  this  parish,  granted  to  him 
by  his  father. 

On  27th  January,  1554-5,  he  granted  a  discharge  to  his  brotlier,  John 
Wishart  of  that  ilk,  for  500  merks  in  satisfaction  of  his  claim  on  half  the  lands 


118  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

of  Ballindarg.  John  Wisbart  of  Logle  Wishart  died  in  1574.  John  Wishart, 
the  next  baron  of  Logie  Wishart,  was  knighted.  He  had  two  sons,  and  was 
succeeded  by  John,  his  eldest  son.  On  30th  October,  1629,  he  was  served 
heir  to  his  uncle  in  lands  in  the  regality  of  Kirriemuir  ;  also  to  his  father,  Sir 
John  Wishart,  in  the  lands  of  Kennyneil.  He  died  without  leaving  issue. 
Thomas  Wishart,  probably  a  son  of  John  of  that  ilk  who  died  in  1574,  ob- 
tained a  portion  of  the  lands  of  Ingleston  in  Kinnettles.  On  11th  January, 
1612,  Thomas  Wishart  "  in  Balhndarg"  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  the 
fourth  part  of  the  lands  of  Ingleston.  He  married  the  only  daughter  of  Sir 
John  Wishart  of  Logie  Wishart,  and  on  the  death  of  his  brother,  John,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  representation  of  the  house,  but  the  estates  were  dissipated.  He 
had  two  sons,  George  and  Gilbert,  the  former  born  about  1599.  He  prose- 
cuted his  theological  studies,  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1624  was  admitted 
minister  of  the  parish  of  Monifieth.  In  1626  lie  was  translated  to  the  second 
charge  in  St  Andrews.  He  retired  to  London  in  1637,  being  deposed  for  desert- 
ing his  charge.  He  was  charged  with  corresponding  with  Royalists,  and  com- 
mitted to  prison.  In  1645  the  Estates  agreed  to  support  his  wife  and  five 
children.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Marquis  of  Montrose  at  Edinburgh  with  his 
victorious  army  he  was  liberated  and  appointed  private  chaplain  to  the 
Marquis,  and  accompanied  him  throughout  his  career  ;  and  at  Paris,  Iq  1647, 
he  published  a  narrative  of  the  exploits  of  the  Marquis.  He  was  created 
Bishop  of  Edinburgh,  and  died  in  August,  1671,  in  his  72d  year. 

Gilbert  Wishart,  younger  son  of  Thomas  Wishart  of  Ballindarg,  graduated 
at  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  in  1622.  Prior  to  17th  March,  1635,  he  was 
admitted  minister  of  Dunnichen.  He  died  in  January,  1688,  leaving  a  son, 
John,  and  daughter,  Isobel.  John  was  Regent  of  Philosophy  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Edinburgh,  and  one  of  the  Commissaries  of  Edinburgh.  He  owned  the 
estate  of  Balgavies,  whicli  he  latterly  exchanged  for  the  barony  of  Logie 
Wishart.  (Vol.  II.,  p.  312.)  He  is  described  by  Nisbet  as  "  nephew  to  the 
Bishop,  and  great-grandson  of  Sir  John  Wishart  of  Logie."  (Mem.  of  Geo. 
Wishart.    Gramp.  Club.) 

Col.  Kiuloch  of  Logie  has  a  tact  between  John  Wissheart  of  that  ilk  and 
David  Nicolson,  for  Wester  Logie  V/issheart,  dated  8th  October,  1692.  It  is 
signed  thus : — 

J.  AVissheart  of  yt  ilk. 

David  Nicolson. 
and  the  following : — 


Chap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  119 

James  Wissheart,  witness. 
Wm.  Wissbeart,  witness. 
Wm.  Lindsay,  witness. 
Tlie  last-named  witness  being 

Bailzie  Deput  of  regality  of  Kirriemuir. 
The  Wisharts  all  sign  Wissheart. 

We  have  not  ascertained  to  whom  Logie  was  sold  by  Sir  John  Wishart,  nor 
how  long  it  was  held  by  the  family  when  it  came  into  their  hands  for  the 
second  time,  but  it  could  not  have  been  for  a  long  period,  as  the  estate  was  ac- 
quired by  David  Kinloch  of  Kilrie  in  1719,  from  John  Ogilvy  of  Balbegno, 
who  had  got  it  from  Ninian  Wishart,  but  we  do  not  know  when,  and  it  still 
remains  in  possession  of  the  fiimily.  An  account  of  the  family  of  Kinloch  of 
Kilry  is  given  in  Vol.  III.,  pp.  361-2.  Colonel  John  Grant  Kinloch  of  Kilry 
and  Logie  is  the  present  proprietor  of  the  estate  of  Logie,  and  the  following 
are  details  regarding  the  members  of  his  family. 

John  Kinloch,  born  1807,  served  in  2d  Life  Guards,  68th  Light  Infantry, 
Inspector  of  Foreign  Legions  during  the  Crimean  War,  and  Colonel  "  Angus 
Eifle  Volunteers."  Married  first,  Agnes,  daughter  of  Francis  Garden- 
Campbell  of  Troup  and  Glenlyon,  and  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter — 1, 
Alexander  Angus-Airlie,  Lieut.-Colonel  "  King's  Koyal  Eifle  Corps,"  served 
in  Afghan  War,  1878-80 ;  married  Constance  Emma  Mary  Long,  and  has 
three  sons,  Angus-Murray,  Donald,  and  Frank.  2,  John  Andrew,  in  the  War 
Office,  London.  3,  Agnes  Ann.  4,  Francis  Garden,  served  in  92d  High- 
landers, 5th  Bengal  Cavalry,  and  Bengal  Staff  Corps,  was  killed  in  Afghan- 
istan, 29th  September,  1879.  Colonel  Kinloch  married,  secondly,  Marjory 
Alexandrina,  daughter  and  heiress  of  William  JM'Dowall  Grant  of  Arndilly, 
Banffshire,  and  assumed  the  name  pf  Grant  Kinloch. 

The  mansion  house  of  Logie,  Col.  Kinloch's  beautiful  seat,  is  in  the  southern 
division  of  this  parish.  It  is  an  old  house,  and  not  all  of  one  height,  some  por- 
tions having  more  floors  than  others,  but  it  is,  notwithstanding  this,  both  com- 
modious and  comfortable.  The  mansion  is  embosomed  among  old  trees  of  great 
size,  which  skirt  the  approaches  to  it  from  the  various  directions,  north, 
east,  and  west,  but  immediately  in  front  the  ground  is  open.  Here  there  is  a 
pretty  lakelet,  into  which  the  Gairie  falls  from  a  considerable  height.  The 
cascade  is  a  surprise  to  the  visitor,  it  not  being  heralded  by  any  appearance  of 
a  stream,  and  the  scene  is  striking  and  charming.  After  resting  for  a  brief 
space  it  flows  gently  onward  to  the  Dean.      The  view  of  the  surrounding 


120  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

country  from  the  tower  is  extensive  and  varied,  and  withal  very  pleasing.  If 
we  could  believe  its  own  date,  the  house  almost  vies  in  age  with  its  near  neigh- 
bour, Glamis  Castle.  Carved  on  one  of  the  walls  of  the  house  are  17  D.K., 
1.0.22,  which  might  imply  that  the  mansion  was  built  in  the  year  1022,  and 
therefore  860  years  ago,  but  it  is  not  so  aged.  The  date  really  is  1722.  D.  K. 
is  for  David  Kinloch,  and  I.O.  for  Isobel  Olipliant,  his  wife. 

We  have  shown  above  that  John  Wishart  of  that  ilk,  on  27th  January, 
1554-5,  acquired  from  his  brother  his  half  of  the  lands  of  Balhndarg,  and  that 
they  had  been  disposed  of  before  1612,  when  the  then  representative  of  the  family 
was  designed  in  Ballindarg.  The  lands  came  into  possession  of  Walter,  Lord 
Torpichen,  who  sold  them  to  John  Carnegie,  Provost  of  Forfar.  He  died 
1695-6.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  or  grandson,  Robert,  who  is  designed 
of  Ballindarg,  in  1724.  (U.  of  C.  of  S.,  429.)  His  son  Robert  succeeded  to 
Ballindarg.  He  also  possessed  part  of  the  lands  of  Kinnell,  which,  with  con- 
sent of  his  wife,  Ann,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of  John  Carnegie  of  Kinnell, 
he  sold,  about  1742,  to  the  Earl  of  Panmure.  (MS.  at  Panmure.)  The 
lands  of  Ballindarg  appear  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the  Grahams. 
Francis  Graham  was  laird  in  1822.  Barron  Graham,  the  present  laird  of 
Morphie,  excambed  Ballindarg  for  IMorphie.  (B.  and  I.  L,  p.  38.)  The 
estate  is  now  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Strathmore. 

The  lands  of  Shielhill  belonged  to  the  Lindsays  at  an  early  period,  and  they 
retained  the  property  until  1629,  when  George,  Earl  of  Crawford,  sold  it  to 
John  Ramsay  of  Balnabreich.  There  was  a  castle  on  the  estate.  It  was  on  a 
picturesque  rock  overhanging  the  left  bank  of  the  South  Esk,  and  part  of  the 
remaining  walls  are  utilised  for  part  of  the  walls  of  some  cottages  now  on  the 
site  of  the  castle.  The  walls  are  about  three  feet  thick,  the  door  and  window 
lintels  of  hewn  work,  with  the  date  1686  on  one  of  them.  It  is  supposed  that 
a  chapel  had  stood  near  the  castle  at  one  time,  and  at  a  little  distance  there  is 
a  spring  known  as  St  Colin's  Well.  The  chapel  may  have  been  dedicated  to 
that  saint.  The  Bridge  of  Shielhill,  which  crosses  the  river  here,  is  romanti- 
cally situated.  (Vol.  I.,  p.  127. j  The  bridge  was  erected  about  1770, 
and  is  in  good  preservation,  and  some  recently  executed  improvements  upon  it 
and  on  the  approaches  to  it  make  it  more  useful  than  it  formerly  was. 
The  Rev.  John  Jamiesou,  D.D.,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Robert  Watson 
of  Shielhill,  laid  here  the  scene  of  his  fine  ballad  of  "  Water  Kelpie,"  in 
which  the  kelpie  is  said  to  have  brought  the  stones  to  build  the  bridge. 


Ohap.  XXXII.]  ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— KIRRIEMUIR.  121 

The  lands  of  Shielhill  were  the  property  of  the  Ogilvys,  probably  cadets  of 
the  family  of  Inverquharity.  They  were  possessed  by  Alexander  Ogilvy  in 
the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He  died  in  November,  1649,  and  on 
20th  of  that  month,  John  Ogilvy,  son  and  heir  of  Alexander,  was  retoured 
(No.  310)  in  the  lands  of  Auchingray,  Brewseat,  &c.,  of  Kinalty,  A.E.  10s, 
N.E.  40s ;  in  a  fourth  and  an  eighth  part  of  the  lands  of  Shielhill,  A.E.  10s, 
N.E.  40s. 

Eobert  Watson  was  laird  of  Shielhill  in,  and  prior  to,  1748.  He  was  pro- 
prietor of  Shielhill,  Drums,  Drumhead,  and  Drumclune,  after  the  division 
made  16th  June,  1767.  The  property  came  into  possession  of  the  Earl  of 
Strathmore  and  Sir  John  Ogilvy  in  1775.  Three  years  thereafter  the  Earl 
sold  Shielhill  to  Fletcher  of  Ballinsho. 

The  modern  mansion  of  Shielhill  is  romantically  situated  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  South  Esk.  It  is  a  plain,  but  good,  comfortable  house,  surrounded  by 
pleasing  grounds  dotted  with  trees  and  shrubs. 

Although  the  Castle  of  Shielhill  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  the 
estate  was  in  this  parish.  In  the  valuation  roll  of  1683  the  estate  is  entered  at 
£166  13s  4d.  It  had  probably  belonged  to  the  Earl  of  Strathmore  at  that 
time.  Shielhill,  Inshewan,  &c.,  in  the  barony  of  Kinalty,  belonged  to  Earl 
Patrick  in  1695,  and  his  son,  Earl  John,  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  them 
and  other  lands  on  29th  October  of  that  year.  (Vol.  I.,  p.  356.)  In  1683  a 
large  property  is  entered  in  the  valuation  under  the  name  "Earl  of  Strathmore," 
the  amount  being  £1086  13s  4d.  Before  16th  June,  1767,  it  was  divided  into 
a  number  of  small  properties  ;  of  these  Drums,  Drumhead,  Drumclune,  Shiel- 
hill, and  Bogurlk  in  Oathlaw  composed  Shielhill,  total  value,  £309  9s  4d.  On 
29th  April,  1775,  this  property  was  again  divided,  but  we  cannot  go  into  these 
sub-divisions.  The  lands  were  subsequently  acquired  by  Charles  Lyell.  He 
was  proprietor  in  1822 ;  Thomas  Lyell,  R.N.,  &c  ,  in  1864 ;  and  the  estate  of 
Shielhill,  comprising  Drumclune  and  Shielhill,  belongs  to  Miss  S.  Gr.  Lyell  of 
Shielhill. 


122  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 


Chap.  XXXIIL— DUNDEE. 

The  parish  of  Dundee,  on  the  north  or  left  bank  of  the  Tay,  extends 
along  the  river  for  about  six  miles,  with  an  average  width  of  about  two 
miles.  The  Tay  forms  the  boundary  on  the  south,  the  united  parishes  of 
Liff  and  Benvie  on  the  west  and  north-west,  the  united  parishes  "of  Mains 
and  Strathmartine  on  the  north,  and  Murroes  and  Monifieth  on  the  east.  A 
small  outlying  portion,  at  a  short  distance  north  from  the  north-eastern 
point  of  the  parish,  is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  Murroes  and  on  the  west 
by  Tealing. 

The  Royal  Burgh  of  Dundee  is  included  within  this  boundary,  and  the 
Parliamentary  boundary,  which  extends  a  long  way  beyond  the  ancient  royalty, 
is  partly  within  this  boundary  and  partly  within  the  united  parishes  of  Liflf 
and  Benvie. 

The  parish  of  Dundee  contains  4582-191  acres,  of  which  58-135  are  water, 
and  175-022  are  foreshore.  The  site  of  the  burgh  within  the  parish  is  in- 
cluded in  the  acreage  given. 

We  have  given  some  account  of  the  Church  in  each  parish,  and  shall  men- 
tion some  details  regarding  the  Parish  Church  of  Dundee.  Thereafter  we 
will  give  the  proprietary  history  of  what  was  the  landward  part  of  the  parish 
in  early  times,  although  portions  of  it  which  were  then  outwith  the  town  of 
Dundee  are  now  within  the  precincts  of  the  burgh,  and  covered  with  houses 
and  streets.  An  account  of  Dundee  and  the  other  Royal  Burghs  in  the  county 
we  propose  to  give  in  another  volume. 

David,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  gifted  the  Church  of  Dundee,  with  the  tithes  of 
the  church  lands,  to  his  newly  founded  Monastery  of  Lindores,  about  the 
beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century.  Although  the  revenues  were  bestowed 
upon  that  Abbey,  the  Church  was  ecclesiastically  in  the  Diocese  of  Brechin. 
It  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary — "  Carta  Roberti  clerici  deDunde  (1202- 
1204)."  It  was  rated  in  the  old  taxation  at  xl.  lib.  (Reg.  de.  Aberb.,  pp.  9G,  241). 

In  the  year  1574,  Dundie  and  Ballumby  had  one  minister.  William 
Cristeson,  minister,  stipend,  £160  Scots  ;  Williame  Kidd,  reidare  at  Dundie, 
£40  Scots  ;  "  Ballumby  neidis  na  reidare."  In  a  note  it  is  said — "  Williame 
Cristeson,  minister,  his  stipend  (£140)  to  be  paylt,  viz.,  out  of  the  third  of  the 
Abbay  of  Leindoris  be  the  takkismen  or  parochinaris  of  the  kirk  of  Dundye,  as 
the  minister  sail  cheiss,  £133  6s  8d.    And  out  of  the  thrid  of  the  aittis  of  the 


Chap.  XXXIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  123 

Abbay  of  Lindoris,  14  boUis  at  16s  Sd  the  boll,  Inde  £10  IGs  8d.  Arid  out 
of  the  tbrid  of  Scone,  in  the  baronage  of  Angus,  under  the  Bra.  12  bolls  beir 
at  20s  the  boll,  Inch  £16."     (Mis.  Wod.  Soc.) 

We  propose  to  give  the  proprietary  account  of  the  lands  owned  by  the 
Viscounts  of  Dudhope,  Earl  of  Dundee,  the  precedence  in  this  chapter,  although 
not  alphabetically  first,  because  from  the  great  extent  of  their  lands,  and  the 
long  ages  the  family  possessed  them,  the  history  of  their  lands  throws  much 
light  on  the  proprietary  details  of  many  of  the  other  lands  in  the  parish,  and 
fewer  repetitions  will  be  necessary  than  if  a  different  order  had  been  adopted  ; 
but  before  doing  so  we  must  give  some  details  of  the  proprietors  of  the  barony 
of  Dundee  in  early  times. 

The  barony  of  Dundee  was  Crown  demesne  until  granted  by  King  William 
the  Lion  to  his  brother  David,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  along  with  the  town.  Soon 
after  Earl  David  received  this  gift  he  granted  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  a  tene- 
ment in  the  town,  calling  it  in  the  deed  of  gift  "  Meo  burgi  de  Dundie."  At 
the  time  of  the  grant  the  barony  of  Dundee  comprehended  within  its  limits  the 
town,  Upper  and  Lower  Dudhope,  Wallace  Craigie,  all  the  modern  Craigie, 
Claypots,  Gotterston,  tlie  Yale  of  the  Dighty,  including  Drumgeith,  Baldovie, 
Pitkerro,  and  Balunie,  the  Clepingtons,  and  a  large  tract  to  the  west  of  the  town, 
besides  other  territories  now  unknown,  extending  in  all  to  about  ten  square 
miles.  Eegarding  the  transmission  of  these  properties  after  the  death  of  Earl 
David  little  is  known.      He  died  in  England  in  1219.     (An.  of  Scot.  I.,  153.) 

Earl  David  left  a  son,  John,  the  Scots  Earl  of  Chester,  who  died  on  2oth 
June,  1236,  without  issue.  Earl  David  also  left  three  daughters,  who,  after 
the  death  of  their  brother,  as  co-heiresses  inherited  the  vast  estates  of  their 
father,  but  it  is  not  absolutely  known  which  properties  each  of  the  daughters 
obtained.  (Do.,  212.)  Margaret,  the  eldest,  was  married  to  Allan,  Lord  of 
GaUoway  ;  Isabella,  the  second,  to  Robert  Bruce  of  Aniiandale  ;  and  Ada,  the 
third,  to  Henry  of  Hastings.  (Do.,  151.)  Allan  left  three  daughters,  co- 
heiresses, two  of  whom  were  by  Margaret,  viz. — Devorguil,  the  favourite  grand- 
daughter of  Earl  David,  who  was  married  to  John  de  Baliol,  Lord  of  Bernard 
Castle ;  and  Christian,  who  was  married  to  William  des  Fortes,  son  of  the 
Earl  of  Albemarle.  By  Isabella,  Robert  had  a  son,  also  named  Kobert  Bruce. 
Martha,  Countess  of  Carrick  in  her  own  right,  happening  to  meet  him  in  her 
domains,  led  him  to  her  Castle  of  Turnbery,  and  a  few  days  after  they  were 
married.  (Do.,  180.)  She  bore  him  a  son  on  11th  July,  1274,  who  became 
Eobert  the  First  of  Scotland.     Part,  if  not  the  whole,  of  the  barony  of  Dundee 


124  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

came  into  the  possession  of  John  de  Baliol,  as  appears  by  charters  which  were 
subsequently  granted  by  King  Robert  Bruce  of  lands  which  had  formed  part 
of  Margaret's  tierce,  and  been  brought  to  him  by  Devorguil. 

In  the  treaty  of  marriage  between  Baliol's  son,  Prince  Henry,  and  a  Princess 
of  France,  part  of  the  revenue  allotted  to  the  Royal  pair  was  the  Castle  of 
Dundee,  which  shows  that  it  had  come  to  Baliol  with  Devorguil. 

Prior  to,  or  about  this  time,  Rauf,  Ralph,  or  Ranulph  of  Dundee  possessed 
a  part  of  the  barony  of  Dundee,  but  from  whom,  when,  or  how  he  obtained  it 
we  have  not  ascertained.  He  did  homage  to  King  Edward  at  Berwick-upon- 
Tweed.  In  the  year  1286  he  was  on  an  inquest  about  the  pasture  lands  of 
Panmure.  He  got  from  Sir  William  Maule  of  Panmure,  on  23d  August, 
1293,  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Balruddery  and  Benvie,  and  they  were  dis- 
united from  tlie  barony  of  Panmure,  and  annexed  to  the  barony  of  Dundee, 
belonging  to  Ralph  of  Dundee,  the  lands  having  been  resigned  to  the  Crown, 
and  a  new  charter  obtained  for  them.  He  appears  to  have  died  before  or  in 
1296,  as  in  that  year  his  wife,  Isabella  de  Dundee,  did  fealty  to  Edward  of 
England,  and  thereupon  had  her  possessions  restored. 

The  son  and  successor  of  Sir  Ralph,  by  attaching  himself  to  the  interests 
of  King  Edward  I.,  had  his  estates  forfeited  in  the  year  1304. 

In  Vol.  II.,  p.  13  and  onward,  we  gave  an  account  of  the  noble  family  of 
Scrymgeour,  and  mentioned  that  Alexander  Scrymgeour,  was  the  compatriot  of 
the  illustrious  Guardian  of  Scotland,  "  keeper  of  the  kingdom,  and  leader  of  her 
armies."  He  received  from  Sir  William  Wallace  a  gift  of  the  constabulary 
of  Dundee.  In  addition  to  this  he  gave  him  six  merks  of  land  in  the  barony 
of  Dundee,  viz.,  that  land  which  is  called  the  Upper  Field,  near  the  town  of 
Dundee,  with  those  acres  in  the  West  Field,  near  the  town  of  Dundee,  on  the 
west  side,  which  were  wont  to  belong  to  the  King  ;  also  the  Royal  Meadow  in 
the  foresaid  barony  of  Dundee,  with  the  pertinents,  liberties,  and  easements  of 
the  constabulary  of  the  Castle  of  Dundee.  It  is  uncertain  what  were  the 
boundaries  of  this  grant,  but  it  embraced  a  considerable  part  of  what  has  been 
from  time  immemorial  known  as  Dudhope. 

We  are  unable  to  define  the  six  merks  of  land  called  the  Upper  Field.  The 
acres  in  the  West  Field  are  now  included  within  the  bounds  of  the  town,  and 
built  upon,  but  they  still  bear  the  old  name.  The  Royal  Meadow  may  have 
been  the  ground  which  from  time  immemorial  was  known  as  the  Meadows, 
which  in  our  younger  years,  before  the  Seminaries  were  erected  upon  them, 


Chap.  XXXIII]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  125 

were  a  veritable  meadow,  fair  to  look  ui^on,  and  a  favourite  resort  for  the  in- 
habitants, old  and  young.  They  ought  to  have  remained  an  open  space  for  all 
time. 

These  lands  must  have  been  in  possession  of  the  Crown,  or  the  personal  pro- 
perty of  King  John  Baliol,  or  the  Governor  could  not  have  so  granted  them  to 
any-one.  They  may  have  been  acquired  by  the  King  with  Margaret,  daughter 
of  David,  Earl  of  Huntington,  and  Devorguil,  her  daughter.  These 
grants  were  confirmed  by  John,  King  of  ^cots,  on  11th  July,  ninth  year 
of  his  reign,  1301,  and  on  20th  June,  1302.  On  10th  February,  1317,  he  had 
from  King  Kobert  Bruce  a  hundred  shilling  land  of  the  dominical  lands,  or 
Mains  of  Dundee.     The  reddendo  is  carrying  the  King's  standard  in  his  army. 

Sir  Alexander  Scrymgeour,  the  third  constable,  acquired  certain  lands  near 
Dundee.  They  may  have  been  portions  of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  but  this  is  un- 
certain. James  Scrymgeour,  the  seventh  constable,  acquired  from  Andrew, 
Lord  Gray,  the  lands  of  the  campus  inferior  of  Dundee,  or  Lower  Dudhope, 
on  27th  April,  1495,  with  the  colt  silver,  or  customs  accruing  from  young 
horses  brought  into  the  town  for  sale,  which  belonged  to  his  Lordship  as  High 
Sheriff  of  the  County.  The  campus  inferior  of  Dundee  lay  south  of  Dudhope 
Castle,  and  is  now  the  site  of  many  manufacturing  establishments. 

On  23d  June,  1567,  James  Scrymgeour,  heir  apparent  of  John  Scrymgeour 
of  Dudhope,  is  infeft  in  a  precept  from  Chancery  in  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Dudhope.  On  11th  December,  1610,  Sir  James  Scrymgeour  got  a  Crown 
charter  in  his  favour  from  James  VI.,  uniting  and  erecting  all  the  lands  of 
Dudhope  and  Castlehill,  &c.,  in  a  barony  to  be  called  in  all  time  coming  the 
barony  of  Dundee. 

On  25th  April,  1643,  James,  Viscount  Dudhope,  heir  of  John,  first  Viscount 
Dudhope,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  280)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Dundee,  including  the  lands  of  Dudhope,  lands  of  Castlehills,  Balunie,  East- 
ferry,  Duntrune,  and  Baldovie,  advocation  of  the  Church  of  Dundee,  lands  of 
Linlathen,  Craigie,  and  other  lands. 

On  25th  July,  1632,  Master  Patrick  Panton,  one  of  the  Professors  of  St 
Andrews,  succeeded  his  father,  Andrew,  burgess  of  Dundee,  in  five  acres  of 
arable  land  in  West  Field.  On  12th  July,  1633,  John  Gray  in  Fowlis  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  John,  burgess  of  Dundee,  in  eleven  acres  of  West  Field, 
Dundee.  The  Field  must  have  been  of  considerable  extent  originally.  The 
old  valuation  was  one  shilling  Scots  the  Scots  acre,  and  the  new  valuation  a 
little  over  three  shillings  and  sevenpence.      In  old  times  it  was  without  the 


126  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

town,  but  it  is  now  within  the  extended  boundary,  and  it  is  now  many  years 
since  Westfield  was  feued  and  built  upon. 

On  4th  November,  1644,  John,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  was  served  heir 
(retour  No.  287)  to  Viscount  James,  his  father,  who  died  at  the  Battle  of 
Marston  Moor,  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Dundee,  containing  the  lands  of 
Dudhope,  lands  of  Castlehills,  office  of  Constabulary  of  Dundee,  and  Eoyal 
Standard-bearer  to  the  King;  the  colt  silver,  &c.,  of  Dundee;  lands  of 
Henderston,  Lillieseat,  and  Eddertie  ;  lands  and  barony  of  New  Tibber,  com- 
prehending the  lands  of  Couston,  Davidston,  and  Pitnappie  ;  mill  and  mill 
lands  of  Millhole ;  lands  of  Balunie,  lands  and  acres  at  Eastferry  ;  lands  of 
Duntrune  and  Baldovie  ;  lands  of  Linlathen  and  Craigie  ;  advocation  of  the 
Church  of  Dundee,  and  teinds  in  the  parish,  A.E.  ^£19  3s  6d,  N.E.  £76  14s, 
united  with  lands  in  Fife,  Perth,  Aberdeen,  and  Argyle,  in  the  barony  of 
Dundee  ;  lands  of  Baldovan ;  lands  of  Strathmartine,  comprehending  lands  of 
Balmydown,  Kirkton  of  Strathmartine,  Hillhouse,  and  Baldragon  ;  lands  of 
Auchinharrie  and  Bridgend  of  Auchray,  in  the  barony  of  Rescobie  and  regality 
of  St  Andrews,  united  in  the  barony  of  Baldovan,  E.  £4  ;  lands  of  Balruddery 
and  Benvie,  with  advocation  of  the  church  in  the  barony  of  Panmure,  ¥j.  6d, 
argenti;  lands  of  Adamston,  in  barony  of  Dronly,  A.E.  40s,  N.E.  £8  ;  lands 
of  Bulzion  or  Catermille,  in  the  barony  of  Melgund,  per  annexation,  A.E.  2s, 
N.E.  10s.  It  was  only  in  the  superiority  of  some  of  these  lands  to  which  he 
was  served  heir,  but  we  cannot  particularise  them. 

On  16th  June,  1655,  James  Brisbane,  heir  of  his  father,  James  Brisbane, 
indweller  in  Dundee,  was  retoured  (No.  345)  in  an  annual  rent  of  480  m. 
furth  of  the  lands  of  Mains  of  Dudhope,  with  the  teind  sheaves,  within  the 
barony  of  Dundee. 

John,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  who  was  retoured  in  the  properties  enumerated 
above,  was  in  1661  created  Earl  of  Dundee,  but  he  died  without  issue  on  23d 
June,  1668. 

By  reason  of  an  entail  of  his  estate,  which,  through  inadvertency,  terminated 
in  the  heirs  male,  the  King  succeeded  thereto  as  ultimiis  hceres,  and  the  titles 
became  extinct. 

From  Alexander  Scrymgeour,  the  first  Constable  of  Dundee,  till  the  time  of 
John,  first  Earl  of  Dundee,  there  were,  including  his  lordship,  thirteen  of  that 
family  who  held  the  offices  of  Constable  and  Eoyal  Standard-bearer  in  succession. 

About  a  year  after  the  death  of  the  Earl,  without  issue.  Treasurer  Maitland 
of  Hatton,  Newtyle,  having  purchased  the  life  interest  of  his  Countess,  sue- 


Chap.  XXXIIL]     ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— DUNDEE.  127 

ceeded  the  Scrymgeonrs  as  Constable,  and  acquired  the  Dudhope  estates,  and 
the  Hilltown,  Chapelshade,  Mills  of  Baldovan,  and  other  extensive  properties 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dundee.  The  property  and  the  Constabulary  passed 
from  Maitland  into  the  hands  of  his  brother,  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale.  He  soon 
thereafter  became  bankrupt,  and  in  1684  the  Town  Council  of  Dundee  took 
some  steps  to  acquire  the  property.  During  the  negotiations  Major-General 
Graham  of  Claverhouse  stept  in,  and  by  the  influence  of  King  James  VII.  he 
acquired  the  Constabulary  of  Dundee  and  the  greater  part  of  the  property.  By 
the  flight  of  the  King  and  the  death  of  Claverhouse  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale 
re-acquired  some  of  the  estates  and  rights,  and  on  5th  March,  1697,  the  town 
obtained  a  disposition  to  all  Lauderdale's  rights  in  the  Dudhope  estates,  in- 
cluding the  burgh  of  barony  of  the  Hilltown,  lands  of  Magdalene-Kirkton, 
the  plough  lands  called  Oxengate  of  Eaitwells  or  Kateculty  (wherever  these 
may  be),  and  Catermillie,  acres  of  Eastferry,  lands  and  salmon  fishings  of 
DrafiQn,  superiority  of  the  lands  of  Duntrune  and  Baldovie,  patronage  of  the 
Church  of  Dundee,  &c.,  &c. ;  excepting  the  manor  place  of  Dudhope,  the 
dominical  lands  or  Mains  of  Dudhope,  the  Constabulary  of  Dundee,  &c. 

The  dominical  lands  of  Dudhope  afterwards  came  into  possession  of  a 
family  named  Boyes.  In  1749  Thomas  Boyes  feued  44  acres  Scots  to  the 
town  of  Dundee,  including  the  Upper  and  Lower  Chapelshade,  from  the 
Lady  well  westward  to  the  Lochee  Eoad,  the  southern  boundary  being  the 
Meadows  and  the  Wards,  the  eastern  the  Hill  Roods,  the  northern  being 
Stirling's  Park,  from  which  down  to  the  road  in  front  of  Somerville  Place, 
then  down  by  the  wall  enclosing  the  Barrack  Park.  The  remainder  of  the 
Mains  of  Dudhope  was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  family  of  Eankine.  It 
afterwards  came  into  possession  of  Richard  Gardner  of  Dudhope,  and  it  has 
again  reverted  to  the  Kankines,  W.  M.  Eankine  of  Dudhope  being  the  present 
laird. 

The  barony  of  Dudhope  consisted  of  arable  land,  chiefly  outwith  the  burgh 
of  Dundee.  It  is  now  nearly  all  included  within  the  municipal  boundary,  and 
a  large  portion  of  the  estate  has  been  feued  and  built  upon.  The  inhabitants 
of  Dundee  had  from  time  immemorial  certain  rights  or  privileges  over  the 
Law  Hill  of  Dundee.  These  were  not  well  defined,  and  their  exercise  might 
have  led  to  disputes  with  the  proprietor.  In  order  to  secure  for  all  time  coming 
so  splendid  a  lung  for  the  pent  up  denizens  of  Dundee,  the  Town  Council,  on 
14th  May,  1878,  purchased  from  William  MacBean  Eankine  of  Dudhope,  the 
proprietor,  the  cone  of  the  Law  and  the  ground  for  some  distance  around  it, 


128  ■  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

with  suitable  approaches  to  it  from  all  sides,  for  the  sum  of  £3888  6s  8d.  This 
purchase  was  universally  approved.  The  Law  is  easy  of  access,  and  trim 
walks  having  a  moderate  gradient  enable  even  weakly  pedestrians  to  reach 
the  summit  without  much  exertion.  There  are  few  points  from  which  a  more 
extensive,  or  a  more  varied  and  beautiful  prospect,  can  be  obtained. 

The  Manor  Place,  or  Castle  of  Dudhope,  stands  upon  a  terrace  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  Law  of  Dundee,  well  down  from  the  summit  of 
the  Law  Hill,  but  so  elevated  as  to  have  overlooked  the  ancient  town 
of  Dundee.  The  situation  is  commanding,  and  the  view  of  the  town 
from  it,  at  the  period  when  it  was  the  residence  of  the  Scrymgeours,  and 
of  the  noble  Tay  beyond,  must  have  been  picturesque  and  grand.  Then  the 
town  did  not  present  the  flat  appearance  which  it  now  has,  seen  from  the 
Castle.  Bold,  precipitous,  rocky  eminences  reared  their  heads  in  different 
quarters.  There  was  the  high  rock  surmounted  by  a  windmill  on  the  west 
side  of  what  is  now  Lindsay  Street,  cleared  away  to  open  up  that  street.  The 
still-  loftier  rock,  presenting  a  bare  perpendicular  front  to  the  west,  with  a 
house  on  the  summit,  and  goats'  feeding  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock.  This  noble 
cliff  was  removed  to  make  way  for  Reform  Street,  excepting  a  small  vestige, 
which  causes  the  ascent  in  New  Inn  Entry.  More  riverward,  and  larger  and 
loftier  than  either  of  these,  was  the  rock  on  which  the  Castle  of  Dundee  once 
stood.  The  formation  of  Castle  Street  caused  the  sacrifice  of  the  Castle  Rock, 
but  an  outlying  spur,  on  which  the  Episcopal  Church  and  the  house  of  the  late 
Bishop  Forbes  are  built,  may  yet  be  seen. 

The  Witch  Knowe  is  but  a  small  eminence  now,  but  it  stood  out  more 
boldly  in  former  times,  and  St  Nicholas  Craig  has  long  since  disappeared. 

Before  the  destruction  of  these  striking  land  marks,  Dundee  must  have  been 
well  entitled  to  be  called  Bonnie  Dundee.  Dudhope  Castle  has  for  many 
years  been  let  to  the  Government,  and  it  is  occupied  as  barracks  for  the 
military  when  there  are  soldiers  in  the  town,  which  now-a-days  is  but  seldom. 
The  Barrack  Park  and  the  grounds  around  Dudhope  House  are  part  of  the 
policies  by  which  the  Castle  was  surrounded  when  the  Constable  of  Dundee 
resided  there. 

The  property  of  Craigie  was  a  large  and  valuable  estate  five  or  six  centuries 
ago,  but  it  was  at  an  early  period  cut  up  into  several  sections,  and  these  were 
again  sub-divided  into  smaller  portions,  which  makes  it  impossible  to  give  a 
correct  continuous  account  of  either  the  sections  or  the  smaller  portions  into 


Chap.  XXXIII.J      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  129 

which  they  were  divided,  but  we  will  make  the  account  as  clear  as,  with  the 
data  at  our  command,  we  possibly  can. 

The  lands  of  Hilton  and  Milton  of  Craigie  were  gifted  by  Ysabella  de 
Brous  to  the  Abbey  of  Lindores.  (Do.,  p.  14.)  Wester  Craigie  is  not  men- 
tioned in  the  grant,  but  this  part  of  the  property  had  probably  been  included 
under  "Hilton,"  of  old  the  gallows  hill  of  Dundee,  now  partly  within  the 
"  Baxter  Park."  It  is  certain  that  AVester  Craigie  was  the  property  of  the 
Abbey,  as  it  is  included  in  a  rental  of  the  possessions  of  the  Abbey,  circa  1480, 
from  which  the  following  is  extracted,  viz  : — 

The  Cleypottis  and  ferritone  XI'^^^  XIX«  iiij^^- 

Wester  Cregy,  set  to  David  Wedderburnes  Xiiij  merkes. 

Hiltone  and  Miltowne  of  Cregy  set  in  feu  XVj  lib. 

Balmaw,  fewit  for  XV  lib. 

Xij  geis  XXXVj  powtre,  with  harrag  and  carrage. 

King  David  II.  granted  a  confirmation  charter  of  the  above-mentioned  lands 
to  the  Abbey,  at  Dundee,  20th  September,  36th  year  of  his  reign  (1365).  (In. 
to  Ch.,  76-92.)  In  it  he  says  "  he  had  seen  a  charter  of  Alexander  II.,  King 
of  Scots,  granting  the  Abbot  of  Lindores  permission  to  hold  all  the  lands  they 
have  held  since  the  foundation  of  the  Abbey,"  &c.,  &c.,  dated  at  the  Maiden's 
Castle,  12th  November,  in  the  33d  year  of  our  reign  (1247).  "And  we  will 
that  the  lands  of  Cragy,  of  Milton,  of  Claypottis,  and  Balmaw,  in  which  said 
Abbey  was  infeft  before  the  grant  of  our  predecessor,  be  held  be  the  same 
religious  men,  free  of  all  service.'^ 

In  the  year  1309  King  Robert  Bruce  granted  to  Eobert  Barbour  a  charter 
of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  in  Forfar,  which  sometime  were  John  Bnliol's  (In. 
to  Ch.,  1-4.)  Baliolhad  also  obtained  the  lands  of  Longforgan,  Inchmartine, 
and  others  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie  ;  and  lands  in  the  Mearns  which  belonged 
to  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  as  charters  of  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Long- 
forgan, &c.,  were  granted  by  The  Bruce  to  Eoger  Cissoris  (do.,  2(5-20),  and 
one  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Forgund,  Inchmartein,  &c.,  to  NicoU  Scarlett, 
whilk  were  Baliol's  (do.,  19-100).  The  King  also  granted  a  charter  to  Andrew 
Gray  of  the  barony  of  Longforgound,  third  part  of  Craigie,  third  part  of  the 
Mill  of  Pettarache  (Pitkerro),  third  part  of  Wairistoun,  and  sundry  other 
lands  in  Dundee,  whilk  was  Edmund  Hasting's  (do.,  26-19). 

The  King  also  granted  a  charter  to  Allan  Balmossie,  of  some  lands  in 
Dundee,  and  third  part  of  Craigie  (do.,  18-81).  This  Allan  had  probably  been 
the  laird  of  Balmossie,  who  had  assumed  a  surname  from  his  lands. 
8 


130  ANGUS  OE  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

In  1356  King  David  II,  granted  a  charter  to  John  Gray,  of  all  his  lands, 
and  of  Craigie,  in  Forfarshire  (do.,  46-44).  The  same  King  granted  a  charter 
anent  the  liberties  of  Lindores,  and  of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  Mylntoun,  Clay- 
pots,  and  Balmow,  in  the  parish  of  Newtyle.  These  lands  had  been  gifted  to 
the  Abbey  of  Lindores  at  an  early  period  as  below. 

King  David  also  granted  a  charter  to  the  Abbey  anent  the  liberties  of  Lin- 
dores, and  of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  Mylntoun,  Claypotts,  Balmow  (do.,  64-1). 

On  11th  February,  1366,  David  II,  granted  a  charter  confirming  a  charter 
by  Margaret  de  Lesly,  relict  of  the  late  Sir  Norman  Lesly,  Kt.,  to  William 
Guppyld,  of  part  of  the  land  which  belonged  to  the  late  Alexander  of  Lambir- 
tonn,  viz.,  Lumlathyn  and  Cragoe  (Craigie),  (Do,,  81,  151.)  The 
charter  by  Margaret  is  witnessed  by  Laurence,  Archdeacon  of  Brechin  ;  Mar- 
garet, Countess  of  Angus  ;  Sir  Walter  of  Leslie,  Sir  Alexander  de  Lindsay, 
knights,  &c.,  but  the  date  of  the  original  charter  is  not  given. 

These  lands  remained  the  property  of  the  Abbey  for  a  long  period,  but,  as 
shown  by  the  rental  given  above,  the  greater  part,  if  not  tlic  whole,  of  tliem 
had  been  feued  before  the  date  of  the  rental,  circa  1480.  The  Abbey  retained 
the  superiority,  and  the  Abbot,  on  behalf  of  the  Convent,  drew  the  feu-duties. 

In  the  year  1600  King  James  VI.  bestowed  the  properties  belonging  to  the 
Monastery  of  Lindores  upon  Patrick  Leslie,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey.  This 
grant  was  ratified  by  Parliament  on  15th  November,  same  year,  and  it  in- 
cluded all  the  lands  of  Balmaw,  in  Newtyle  ;  Hillend,  Hilton  and  Miltoun  of 
Craigie,  Claypots,  and  Ferrytoun  ;  Church-lands,  Grange,  &c.,  &c.,  of  Dundee, 
&c.,  &c.  This  gift  by  the  King  did  not  include  the  proprietorship  of  the 
several  lands,  that  having  previously  been  disposed  of  by  the  Convent,  but  only 
the  superiority  of  them,  and  the  feu-duty  payable  by  the  vassals  for  their 
respective  lands. 

We  mentioned  above  that  Eobert  the  Bruce  gave  the  third  part  of  the  lands 
of  Craigie  to  Walter  of  Balmossie,  In  1370  King  Kobert  II,  granted  a  charter 
to  Patrick  de  InverpefFer  of  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  near 
Dnndoe,  called  Bruis  lands,  quilk  was  Walter  Balmossie,  and  the  co-superiority 
Alexander  Scrymgeor's,  Constable  of  Dundee,  resigned.  (In.  to  Ch.,  113-5.) 
On  olst  i\Tay,  1378,  the  same  King  granted  another  charter  to  Patrick  of 
Inverpefifer,  of  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  with  the  fishing,  in  the 
barony  of  Dundee,  called  Le  Bruyspart,  the  property  of  which  had  belonged 
to  Walter  de  Balmossie,  and  the  superiority  to  Alexander  Scrymchur,  (Do. 
122,  100.)      In  the  same  year  the  King  granted  a  third  charter  of  the  same 


Chap.  XXXIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  131 

lands  to  InverpefFer,  of  which  the   superiority  was   resigned  by   Alexander 
Schirmechour,     (Do.,  12S-6.) 

On  7th  March,  1391,  King  Robert  III.  granted  to  St  Salvator's  Altar,  in 
the  Parish  Kirk  of  Dundee,  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  the  Milnton  of 
Craigie,  and  the  third  part  of  Westfield,  in  the  barony  of  Dundee,  on  the  re- 
signation of  James  [^kirmicho^r,  Constable  of  Dundee.     (Do.,  151-11.) 

This  charter  to  the  chaplainry  of  St  Salvador's  Altar,  in  St  Mary's  or  the 
Parish  Church  of  Dundee,  followed  upon  a  mortification  of  these  lands  to  the 
chaplain  by  Patrick  de  Innerpefier,  wdiich  he  made  after  he  acquired  them  as 
related  above. 

The  Scrymgeours,  Constables  of  Dundee,  appear  to  have  possessed  a  con- 
siderable part  of  Craigie  as  proprietors  and  also  as  superiors. 

One  third  of  the  town  and  lands  of  the  Milton  of  Craigie  had  been  gifted  tt 
the  chaplain  of  the  chaplaincy  of  St  Mary,  in  St  Clement's  Church,  Dundee, 
the  site  of  which  is  now  occupied  by  the  Town  House  and  its  adjuncts.  We 
do  not  know  by  what  pious  man  or  woman  they  had  been  bestowed,  nor  when 
the  gift  was  made. 

The  chaplain  had  not  been  drawing  much  revenues  from  the  lands,  and  in 
order  to  increase  his  income  he  obtained  permission  from  the  Provost  and 
twelve  burgesses  to  feu  the  third  part  of  the  Milton  of  Craigie,  which  belonged 
to  the  chaplain.  One  half  of  the  third  was  feued  to  John  Jackson,  burgess  of 
Dundee,  the  feu  charter  being  dated  3 1st  August,  1540.  The  other  half  of 
the  third  part  of  the  lands  was  feued  the  same  year,  but  the  day  and  month 
do  not  appear  in  the  charter,  to  Walter  Scrymgeour  of  Glasswell.  The  feu- 
duty  on  both  portions  was  payable  partly  in  money,  at  Pentecost  and  St 
Martin's  ;  and  partly  in  corn  and  oatmeal  at  the  feast  of  the  purification  of  the 
Virgin,  yearly. 

On  15th  March,  1530,  charter  of  confirmation  by  David  Lyell  vicar  of 
Arbuthnott,  of  charter  by  Alexander  Boyes,  portioner  of  Panbride,  to  Robert 
Milne,  burgess  of  Dundee,  and  Margaret  Kinloch,  of  a  sixth  part  of  the  Milton 
of  Craigie.  On  9th  June,  1581,  Alexander  Lovell  gave  to  Patrick  Anderson, 
burgess  of  Dundee,  charter  of  one-sixth  part  of  the  Milton  of  Craigie,  to  be 
held  of  the  chaplain.  On  11th  November,  1586,  Thomas  Scrymgeour,  chaplain 
of  the  Altar  of  St  James,  in  the  Parish  Church  of  Dundee,  had  charter  of  a 
sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  Milton  of  Craigie.  On  12th  iMarch,  1590,  Patrick 
Lord  (jrray  gave  charter  of  three  parts  of  same  lands.  On  Gtli  June,  159-1, 
Robert  Milne,  burgess  of  Dundee,  gave  Robert  Wedderburn  charter  of  the  sixth 


132  ANGUS  OB,  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

part  of  said  lands.  On  lOtli  ITovember,  1598,  David  Maxwell  of  Tealing  sold 
William  Graliame  of  Balmuir  12  oxgangs  of  land  of  Milton  of  Craigie  for 
2000  merks. 

The  third  part  of  the  lands  of  tlie  Milton  of  Craigie,  which  belonged  to  the 
chaplain  of  St  Mary's,  was  commonly  called  browser's  part,  or  St  Clement's 
part  of  the  lands  of  the  Milton.  The  half  of  the  third  feued  to  Richard  Jack- 
son appears  to  have  been  the  sunny  half  It  was  bounded  by  the  lands  of 
Gotreistone  (Gotterston),  and  also  by  the  lands  of  the  half  of  the  third  part  of 
the  town  and  lands  of  Milton  of  Craigie,  which  pertained  to  the  Abbey  of 
Lindores,  now  belonging  to  David  Wedderburn,  on  the  east;  and  by  the  other 
half  of  said  lands,  feued  to  Walter  Scryrageour,  on  the  west.  The  half  feued 
to  Walter  Scrymgeour  is  said  to  lie  to  the  shadow  or  shady  part  of  Jackson's 
part,  which  bounded  it  on  the  east ;  and  on  the  west  it  was  bounded  by  the 
third  part  of  said  lands  of  Milton,  belonging  heritably  to  the  Lord  of  Gray, 
and  presently  possessed  by  the  heirs  of  the  Lord  of  Bello,  at  the  west. 

These  lands  appear  to  have  been  at  one  period  the  property  of  the  town, 
and^  although  the  Provost  and  patrons  of  the  chaplaincy  gave  the  chaplain 
permission  to  feu  them,  the  Town  Council  retained  the  superiority.  It  is 
included  in  the  charter  by  King  Charles  II.,  and  in  other  documents, 
and  it  was  sold,  along  with  the  superiorities  of  the  Clepiugtons,  Baldovie, 
Drumgeith,  Duntrune,  &c.,  on  17th  September,  176G,  the  sum  realized  for 
the  whole  being  about  £3880  sterling,  part  of  which  belonged  to  the 
town,  and  part  to  the  Hospital,  both  bodies  being  interested  in  some  of  the 
superiorities. 

On  9th  October,  1535,  David  Wedderburn  of  Tofts,  Town  Clerk  of  Dundee, 
received  from  King  James  V".  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  to  him  and 
Helen  Lawson,  his  spouse,  of  the  lands  of  Hilton  of  Craigie. 

On  14th  June,  1565,  sasine  proceeded  on  a  charter  granted  by  John  Wallace 
of  Craigie,  in  favour  of  George  Wishart,  by  which  he  received  the  lands  of 
Westerdoid,  in  Forfarshire. 

On  29th  December,  1G07,  William  Scharp  of  Pitkethly,  heir  of  Alexander 
Scharp,  his  brother,  was  retoured  (No.  59)  in  the  sixth  part  of  the  Hilton  of 
Craigie,  and  in  other  portions  thereof.  On  2d  May,  1611,  John  Schairp  of 
Ballindoch,  heir  of  Alexander  Schairp,  brother  of  the  deceased  Sir  William 
Schairp  of  Bnllindoch,  knight,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  75)  in  the  sixth 
part  of  the  Hilton  of  Craigie,  and  also  in  the  half  of  the  sixth  part  of  said 
lands.     On  same  day  John  Schairp  of  Ballindoch,  heir  of  Sir  William  Schairp, 


Chap.  XXXIII.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  133 

Kt ,  his  father,  was  retoiired  (No.  74)  in  the  sixth  part,  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  hmds  of  Craigie,  and  in  a  tenement  with  garden  in  Dundee. 

On  28th  May,  1554,  charter  of  half  the  lands  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  and  sixth 
part  of  the  Milton  of  Craigie,  was  given  by  the  Abbey  of  Lindores  to  Eichard 
Blyth,  son  of  David  Blyth  of  Craigie,  and  Joneta  Reth  (?),  his  spouse,  in 
feudifirmcie.  The  seal  of  the  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews  is  attached  to  the 
charter.  On  21st  May,  1586,  James  Blyth,  son  and  heir  of  Eichard  Blyth, 
was  infeft  in  Milton  of  Craigie — witnesses,  Alex.  Wedderburn,  James  Blyth, 
burgess  of  Dundee,  and  John  Blyth,  jim.,  Hilton  of  Craigie.  (Clayhills  Charters.) 

Eichard  Blyth,  heir  of  James  Blyth,  his  father,  was,  on  I4th  May,  1605, 
retoured  (No.  155)  in  the  half  of  the  lands  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  and  in  the  lauds 
of  Milton  of  Craigie,  in  the  regality  of  Lindores. 

Between  the  18th  August,  1632,  and  the  14th  May,  1633,  Margaret  Dunbar, 
daughter  of  Isabella  Schairp,  spouse  of  Eobert  Dunbar  of  Burgie,  sister  of 
John  Schairp  of  Ballindoch,  heir-portioner  of  said  John  Schairp,  was  retoured 
(No  211)  in  the  eighth  part  of  the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  Craigie,  and  the 
same  proportion  of  the  lands  of  Hilton  of  Craigie.  At  the  same  time  Jean, 
Isabella,  and  Elizabeth  Dunbar,  daughters  of  said  Isabella  Schairp,  &c.,  were 
each  retoured  (No.  212)  in  their  respective  portions  of  said  lands  of  Craigie 
and  Hilton  of  Craigie. 

On  16th  October,  1638,  John  Sharpe,  heir  of  Mr  John  Scharpe  of  Houston, 
advocate,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  248)  in  the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of 
Craigie  ;  also  the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  and  the  half  of 
the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  Craigie.  On  25th  April,  1643,  James,  Viscount 
Dudhope,  heir  of  Viscount  John,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  280)  in  the 
lauds  of  Craigie,  Eastferry,  Liukthen,  Balunie,  Baldovie,  Duntrune,  and  others. 

On  28th  October,  1662,  Patrick  Kyd  of  Craigie,  heir  male  of  James  Kyd 
of  Craigie,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  396)  in  the  third  part  of  the  town  and 
land  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  formerly  called  Wester  Craigie,  in  the  barony  of 
Dundee,  A.E.  50s,  N.E.  £10,  and  in  the  teind  sheaves  of  the  said  land  ;  the 
tenth  part  of  the  land  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  called  a  ploughgate  of  land,  A.E. 
5s,  N.E.  20s  ;  the  sixth  part  of  the  land  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  E.  £9  13s  4d, 
&c.  ;  also  lands  of  Over  Barrie  Moor,  in  the  barony  of  Barrie,  E.  £3  15s. 

On  22d  September,  1664,  David  Clayhills  of  Invergowrie,  heir  of  Eobert 
Clayhills,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  408)  in  the  half  of  the  town  and  lands 
of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  with  the  teind  sheaves  thereof;  also  in  Baldovie,  Drum- 
geith,  &c. 


134  ANGUS  OK  EORFAESHIKE.  [Pakt  XIV. 

On  5th  April,  1677,  James  Kyd  of  VVoodliill,  heir  of  his  father,  WilHam 
Kyd  of  Woodbill,  was  retoured  (No.  471)  in  the  third  part  of  the  town 
and  lands  of  Hilton  of  Craigie,  the  sixth  part  of  the  same,  the  teind 
sheaves  of  same  ;  and  the  half  lands  of  Craigie,  all  erected  into  the  barony  of 
Craigie. 

On  18th  June,  1678,  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  heir  male  of  George 
Graham  of  Claverhouse,  was  retoured  (No,  474)  in  the  third  part  of  the  lands 
of  Milton  of  Craigie  ;  the  lands  of  the  Milton  of  Craigie  lying  near  to  the  town 
of  the  Milton  of  Craigie,  and  other  lands.  He  was  same  day  also  served  heir 
(No.  475)  to  Sir  William  Graham,  his  great-grandfather,  in  the  lands  of 
Gotterston  principal,  E.  24s  6d  feudijirmce,  lands  of  Claypots,  and  pendicle  of 
land  in  West  Ferry,  with  fishings,  in  Warrandice  of  Gotterston,  E.  17m  10s 
feudifirmce. 

The  divisions  and  subdivisions  into  which  the  lands  of  Craigie  were  broken 
up,  are  so  interminable  that  no  consecutive  proprietary  account  of  them  can  be 
given,  few  of  the  different  sections  having  a  distinguishing  name.  We  have 
stated  such  of  these  as  are  given  as  well  as  we  could. 

The  Kyds,  Avho  were  long  designed  of  Craigie,  were  in  possession  of 
the  lands  from  about  1534,  and  the  family  continued  in  possession 
until  after  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  but  we  have  not  ascertained 
the  precise  date.  In  the  Burgh  Laws,  p.  277,  the  Convener  of  the  Nine 
Trades  mentioned  at  a  meeting  of  the  Trades,  held  on  8th  October,  1759,  that 
James  Guthrie  of  Craigie  proposed  to  purchase  Blacks  Croft  from  the  Trades. 
He  must  therefore  have  been  in  possession  of  some  part,  if  not  the  whole,  of 
the  lands  of  Craigie  at  and  some  time  after  that  date. 

Nearly  a  century  previously,  in  1676,  the  town  had  been  in  communication 
with  the  Kyds  of  Craigie  regarding  their  respective  interests  in  the  IVIuir  of 
Craigie,  and  an  understanding  on  the  subject  was  agreed  to,  the  particulars  of 
which  are  given  in  the  Burgh  Laws,  278-80,  but  the  agreement  had  not  been 
carried  out.  On  26th  February,  1704,  some  farther  progress  was  made,  but 
it  was  not  until  1765  that  the  matter  was  finally  settled  between  the  Town,  the 
Hospital,  and  the  Trades  on  the  one  part,  and  James  Guthrie  of  Craigie,  and 
James  Kyd,  heir  of  the  late  George  Kyd  of  Craigie,  on  the  other  part.  It 
appears  from  this  that  James  Kyd  had  then  held  some  interest  in  Craigie.  The 
Muir  of  Craigie  is  now  known  as  Stob's  Muir,  but  it  has  now  little  appearance 
of  a  muir. 

On  17th  September,  1766,  James  Guthrie,  junior,  of  Craigie,  bought  the 


Chap.  XXXIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- DUNDEE.  135 

superiorities  of  the  third  part  of  Craigie  from  the  town  for  £500  sterling.  His 
father,  the  first  Guthrie  of  Craigie,  died  in  the  year  1788,  aged  90  years.  The 
lands  of  Craigie  have  been  partly  given  off,  but  the  Guthries  still  retain  the 
mansion  house  and  part  of  the  lands  of  Craigie. 

James  Alexander  Guthrie  of  Craigie  married  Ellinor,  second  daughter  of 
the  late  Admiral  Sir  James  Stirling.  He  had  by  her  a  son,  David  Charles, 
born  in  1861,  and  other  issue.  He  was  a  merchant  in  London,  and  a  Director 
of  the  Bank  of  England,  and  by  an  order  from  him,  James  Yeaman,  the  late 
Member  of  Parliament  for  Dundee,  the  author,  and  one  or  two  others,  were 
shown  through  the  various  departments  of  that  great  national  banking  estab- 
lishment. He  was  a  Commissioner  of  Lieutenancy  for  London,  and  a  J.P. 
and  D.L,  for  the  County  of  Forfar. 

The  heir  presuniptive  to  David  Charles  Guthrie,  the  present  laird  of  Craigie, 
is  his  brother,  James  Stirling  Guthrie,  born  in  1867. 

Headrick,  in  his  Review  of  the  Agriculture  of  Angus,  says  of  Craigie  House 
— "  The  plantations  are  so  artificially  disposed  as  to  hide  all  those  parts  of  the 
Tay  where  the  tide  leaves  the  bottom  dry,  and  to  give  it  all  the  effect  of  an 
artificial  lake.  The  constant  play  of  the  boats  and  shipping,  seen  throngh 
these  openings,  gives  them  all  the  effect  of  figures  in  the  magic  lantern." 
Great  changes  have  been  made  on  the  banks  of  the  river  since  Headrick  wrote, 
and  the  traffic  on  the  river  has  been  increased  amazingly,  and  completely 
altered  in  character  during  the  seventy  years  which  have  passed  since  then,  but 
the  views  of  the  river,  and  the  shipping  passing  up  and  down  to  the  great  com- 
mercial and  manufacturing  town  of  Dundee,  seen  from  the  finely  situated 
mansion  house  of  Craigie,  are  extremely  beautiful.  Craigie  House  is  sur- 
rounded by  thriving  plantations  and  little  clumps  of  trees,  and  much  well- 
grown  timber.  These  and  the  good  garden  and  fine  lawn  and  walks  make  it 
a  very  desirable  residence.  The  house  was  erected  by  one  of  the  earlier  of  the 
Guthrie  proprietors,  but,  though  not  in  the  modern  style,  it  is  a  good,  com- 
fortable dwelling. 

Eobert  M'Gavin  of  Balumbie,  who  acquired  about  one  half  the  estate  of 
Craigie,  has  since  then  given  off"  first  twenty  acres,  and  then  as  much  more, 
to  the  Town  of  Dundee  for  a  cemetery,  a  purpose  for  which  it  is  well  suited, 
and  the  grounds  are  laid  out  with  skill  and  taste,  and  are  very  beautiful.  AVhat 
remains  in  the  hands  of  Balumbie  is  good  land,  the  greater  part  of  it  having  a 
southern  exposure,  and  it  is  a  desirable  property. 


136  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

On  29th  March,  1G94,  King  AVilliam  granted  the  greater  part  of  the  pro- 
perties, which  had  belonged  to  Viscount  Dundee,  including  the  Manor  Place 
or  Castle  of  Dudhope,  with  the  Constabulary  of  Dundee,  and  lands  of  Clay- 
pots,  Ferrytown,  Gotterstone,  Claverhouse,  the  Glen  of  Ogilvie  and  others,  to 
James,  Marquis  of  Douglas,  and  his  heirs  male  of  body,  to  his  other  heirs  of 
tailzie  in  the  jSIarquisate  and  estate  of  Douglas,  to  his  own  heirs  and  assigns 
whatever.  On  12th  August,  1698,  the  Marquis  put  his  whole  estate,  including 
Dudhope  and  other  properties  above  mentioned,  under  Commissioners,  of 
whom  the  Earl  of  Forfar  was  one.  The  Marquis  also  made  his  last  will,  by 
which  he  gave  to  the  Marchioness  the  park  at  Dudhope  for  life.  The  Marquis 
died  23d  February,  1700,  and  on  9th  November,  1702,  Marquis  Archibald  was 
retoured  heir  in  special  to  his  flither  in  Dudhope,  and  infeoffed  accordingly. 
On  11th  June,  1718,  the  Duke  of  Douglas  executed  a  disposition  of  his  estate 
of  Dudhope  to  certain  heirs.  For  some  time  the  Earl  of  Forfar  had  tried  to 
get  the  late  Marquis  James  inveigled  out  of  part  of  the  properties,  but  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Commission  and  other  proceedings  the  base  designs  were 
frustrated.  The  Earl  fell  at  Sheriffmuir,  his  title  became  extinct,  and  his 
properties  of  Bothwell  and  others  passed  to  the  Duke.  The  properties  which 
belonged  to  Lord  Dundee  remain  in  possession  of  Charles  Alexander,  Lord 
Dunglass,  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Countess  of  Home,  who  was  the  sister  of  the 
late  Lord  Douglas,  and  the  representative  of  that  ancient  and  noble  house.  On 
the  death  of  his  father  he  succeeded  to  the  family  honours  as  twelfth  Earl  of 
Home. 

King  Alexander  II.  (1214-1249)  bestowed  the  lands  of  Clay  potts  and 
Ferrytown  upon  the  Abbey  of  Lindores.  The  date  of  the  gift  we  have  not 
met  with,  but  they  had  then  been  Crown  lands.  (Lind.  Ab.,  p.  48.)  Fome 
time  thereafter,  on  12th  November,  1247,  he  made  a  grant  of  the  lands  of 
Balmaw,  in  the  paiisli  of  Newtyle,  to  the  same  Abbey. 

The  several  lands  in  the  parish  which  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Lindores 
had  been  feued  by  the  Abbot  prior  to  tlie  abolition  of  the  monastic  institutions. 
The  estate  of  Claypots  appears  to  have  been  acquired  by  the  family  of  Strachan 
early  in  the  sixteenth  century.  On  6th  July,  1512,  James  Strachan  of  Clay- 
pottis  liad  confirmation  of  Claypottis,  fcudifirmce.  The  Strachans  of  Carmylie 
and  this  family  were  cadets  of  the  ancient  house  of  Straclian  of  Strachan  and 
Thornton  in  the  Mearns,  a  short  account  of  whom  we  have  given  in  the  chapter 
on  the  parish  of  Carmylie,     (Vol.  III.,  p.  92.) 


Chap.  XXXIII.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— D  UNDEE.  137 

The  first  of  the  name  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge  as  proprietor  of 
Claypots  does  not  appear  in  an  enviable  position. 

In  the  Eecord  of  Gifts  nnder  tlie  Privy  Seal  is  a  precept  dated  25th 
February,  1511,  for  a  remission  to  John  Strachan  "in  the  Claypottis/' and 
five  others,  for  the  theft  of  seven  horses  and  waggons  from  the  lands  of  Kyn-- 
carins,  Over  and  Nether,  pertaining  to  the  Chancellerie  of  Dunkeld,  committed 
by  them  in  company  with  Mr  Gilbert  Strachan,  who  asserted  that  the  said 
Chancellarie  belonged  to  him  (Privy  Seal  Gifts,  Vol.  IV.).  Mr  Gilbert 
Strachan  was  parson  of  Fettercairn.  A  letter  was  written  on  21st  May,  1523, 
at  Claypots,  by  Master  Gilbert  Strachan,  parson  of  Fettercairn.  It  was  ad-= 
dressed  to  his  cousin,  Thomas  Strachan,  the  laird  of  Carmylie.  In  the 
Eegister  of  the  Privy  Seal  is  recorded  a  Royal  letter,  dated  at  Edinburgh,  7th 
July,  1527,  granting  to  Master  Gilbert  Strachauchin,  parsone  of  Fethercarne, 
prothonotar  apostolic,  &c.,  the  gift  of  the  ward,  non  entres,  and  relief  of  all 
landis  and  annuettis,  &c.,  quhilkis  pertenit  to  Charles  Thorntoun  of  that  ilk, 
&c.,  and  als  of  the  marriage  of  Archibald  Thornctoun,  &c.  (Mem.  of  the 
Strachans,  p.  19). 

John  Strachan  of  Claypottis  was  one  of  the  curators  of  John  Thornton  of 
that  ilk.  On  23d  July,  1557,  he  and  the  other  curators  consented  to  John 
of  Thornton  obtaining  precept  for  confirmation  of  a  charter  in  favour  of  Isabella 
Strachan,  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Strachan  of  Carmylie,  of  the  fourth  part 
of  Thornton  in  liferent,  in  implement  of  the  marriage  contract  between  the 
said  John  and  Isabella  (Mem.  of  Strachans,  p.  7).  John  Strachan  of  Claypots 
is  mentioned  27th  February,  155G.  John  Strachan  of  Claypots  is  a  juror  at 
Forfar,  5th  June,  1560.     (Reg.  de  Pan.,  p.  310.) 

On  7th  and  18th  September,  1584,  a  marriage  contract  was  executed  between 
Gilbert  Strachan,  younger  of  Claypots,  and  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  late 
Alexander  Maxwell  of  Tealing  (Reg.  of  Deeds,  V.,  Ixi.).  Gilbert  Strachan  of 
Claypots  is  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  heiresses  of  Carmylie  on  11th 
February,  1601. 

On  8th  May,  1601,  a  contract  was  subscribed  at  Dundee  between  John 
Strachan  of  Claypots  on  the  one  part,  and  Robert  Strachan  of  Balhousie,  with 
consent  of  Helen  Carnegie,  his  spouse,  on  the  other  part,  for  the  sale  by  the  latter 
to  the  former  of  the  lands  of  Balhousie,  in  the  parish  of  Panbride,  under 
reversion,  for  2000  merks  (Reg.  of  Deeds,  Vol.  So). 

We  have  not  ascertained  when  the  Strachans  ceased  to  own  Claypots,  but  it 
had  been  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.     The  estate  appears  to 
s 


138  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

have  passed  from  that  family  to  the  Scrymgeours,  Viscounts  of  Dudhope,  and 
it  remained  in  this  family  until  the  death  of  the  Earl  of  Dundee  on  23d  June, 
1668,  when  they  passed  to  the  Countess,  his  widow,  who  had  a  life  interest  in 
them.  This  interest  was  acquired  by  Treasurer  Maitland,  then  by  his  brother,  the 
Earl  of  Lauderdale.  On  his  bankruptcy  in  1683-4,  Major-General  Graham  of 
Claverhouse,  through  the  influence  of  King  James  VII.,  obtained  a  large  part 
of  the  lands.  After  the  death  of  Viscount  Dundee,  on  17th  June,  1689,  his 
estates  were  forfeited,  and  on  29th  March,  1694,  King  William  granted  Clay- 
pots  and  many  others  of  his  lands  to  the  Marquis  of  Douglas,  and  they  are  now 
the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Home,  in  succession  from  the  Marquis. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683,  lands  in  this  parish,  valued  rent  £600,  are 
described  as  ClaverJiouse.  In  the  Roll  for  1822  these  lands  are  called  Clay- 
pots  and  Milton,  Lord  Douglas  proprietor,  the  valued  rent  being  £600.  These 
properties  had  in  1683  been  both  owned  by  General  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  and 
so  called  Claverhouse. 

It  is  uncertain  when  or  by  whom  the  Castle  of  Claypots  was  erected.  The 
popular  legends  which  connect  Cardinal  Beaton  with  the  Castle  are  myths.  It 
may  have  been  a  Grange  of  the  Abbey  of  Lindores,  to  which  the  lands  of 
Claypots  belonged  for  several  centuries.  If  so  it  had  been  built  some  time 
prior  to  the  dissolution  of  monastic  establishments.  It  is  probable  that  the 
lands  had  been  feued  before  that  period,  and  the  Castle  may  have  been  built 
by  the  first  lay  proprietor. 

As  we  have  shown  above,  the  lands  belonged  to  the  Strachans  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  sixteenth  century.  We  think  the  Castle  had  originally 
consisted  of  the  square  tower  which  forms  the  central  building,  and  that  the 
south-western  circular  tower  had  been  added  in  1569,  which  date  is  upon  the 
peat  stone  of  the  roof  facing  the  west.  In  1588  the  Strachans,  who  added  the 
south  round  tower,  built  the  north-eastern  circular  tower,  either  because  they 
required  more  room  for  themselves  and  their  retainers,  or  to  improve  the 
appearance  of  the  structure.  This  date  is  upon  the  corresponding  stone  of  the 
roof  of  this  tower  facing  the  east.  On  the  peatstone  on  the  west  side  of  the  roof 
of  tliis  tower  there  is  a  neat  escutcheon  bearing  a  chief  or  /ess  charged  with 
cinque  f  dls  or  roses.    The  shield  is  flanked  by  the  letters  I.  S.  for  John  Strachan. 

There  is  considerable  ornamentation  on  the  upper  window  of  the  southern 
tower,  but  with  this  exception  the  building  is  particularly  plain.  On  the  east 
side  of  the  central  square  tower  there  is  a  well  formed  channel  for  carrying  off 
refusfe  water  from  the  interior. 


Chap.  XXXIII]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  139 

The  Castle  stands  on  the  south  side  of  the  highway  between  Dundee  and 
Arbroath,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  road  leading  from  the  highway 
to  Broughty  Ferry. 

The  Castle  of  Claypots  appears  to  have  been  habitable  and  inhabited  many 
years  after  the  Strachans  left  it.  Henry  Fithie,  after  being  deposed  from  the 
■Church  of  Mains  in  1G49,  had  probably  retired  to  the  castle.  On  fith  June, 
1653,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Panraure,  which  was  sent  through  Mr 
Pilmure,  his  factor,  mentioning  that  he  vfoukl  have  been  with  his  Lordship  oa 
Sunday  night,  but  he  had  been  seized  with  an  issue  of  blood,  and  was  unable 
to  walk  or  ride.     It  was  dated  Claypotts. 

The  building  as  it  appears  at  the  present  time  is  devoid  of  beauty.  It  cor.- 
sists  of  a  square  tower  of  about  four  floors,  flanked  on  the  south-west  and 
north-east  by  circular  towers,  over  each  of  which  is  a  square  storey  with  f^tone 
crow  stepped  roof,  the  projecting  square  corners  over  the  circular  wall  being 
superimposed  on  corbels  rising  from  the  round  wall,  which  give  the  Castle  a 
top  heavy  appearance.  The  exterior  walls  are  in  fair  preservation,  but  the 
interior  is  in  a  dilapidated  condition.  The  ground  storey  is  loopholed.  The 
upper  windows  are  generally  small,  and  some  of  them  have  been  built  up. 

The  better  accessories  it  must  have  had  in  its  palmy  days  would  no  doubt 
give  it  a  pleasanter  appearance  than  now  ;  but,  although  it  is  much  larger  than 
Afileck  Castle,  it  does  not  appear  ever  to  have  had  the  style  which,  it  is  still 
evident,  Auchinleck  at  one  time  had,  remains  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen. 

The  Castle  of  Claypots  is  built  in  the  same  form  and  style  as  the  Castle  ot 
Dalpersie,  in  Aberdeenshire,  which,  as  originally  built,  formed  a  parallelogram, 
defended  by  two  circular  towers  attached  to  two  opposite  angles,  so  that  the 
whole  accommodation  was  one  room  on  each  of  threi^  floors,  unless  we  dignify 
the  interior  of  the  towers,  lighted  only  by  the  small  portholes,  by  calling  them 
apartments.  We  are  quite  at  a  loss  to  understand  how  a  building  of  such 
contracted  extent  could  have  supplied  the  wants  of  the  family  of  a  landed  pro- 
prietor. The  circular  towers  had  low  conically  capped  roofs.  The  rooms 
within  the  towers  were  only  nine  feet  across.     Dalpersie  was  built  in  1651. 

Besides  the  grants  of  lands,  parts  of  the  barony  of  Dundee,  which  we  have 
already  mentioned  as  having  been  granted  by  King  Kobert  I.,  he,  on  lOth 
February,  1317-8,  granted  to  Nicoll  Skrimeschour  a  charter  of  the  office  of 
Constable  of  Dundee,  and  of  lands  in  the  barony  of  Dundee  which  belonged  to 
"  Lord  de  Baliol."     This  grant  included  the  Law  and  all  the  lauds  around  it, 


140  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  •  [Part  XIV. 

embraciog  those  now  known  a^  Dudhope,  the  Clepingtons,  Coldside,  Maxwell- 
town,  Forebank,  Wallace  Craigie,  and  part  of  Craigio. 

After  the  death  of  the  Earl  of  Dundee,  the  Earl's  estates,  including  most  of 
these  lands,  were  acquired  by  the  Maitlands,  then  by  Viscount  Dundee,  and 
then  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale.  The  Town,  in  1697,  acquired  part  of  them  from 
the  Earl  of  Lauderdale  and  Sir  Robert  Milne.  They  were  subsequently  feued 
by  the  Town  to  various  parties.  William  Morrison  of  Naughton  feued  Cold- 
side  ;  Guthrie  is  designed  of  Clepington  ;  Maxwell,  of  Wester  Clepington  ; 
Wedderburn,  of  Easter  Clepington,  Caldrum  Green,  and  other  portions.  The 
Kirk-Session,  some  of  the  Mortifications,  the  Seaman  Fraternity,  Bonnet- 
maker  Trade,  and  others  were  also  feuars  of  certain  of  the  lands.  These  were 
the  proprietors  of  the  I'espective  properties  in  1777,  as  is  shown  by  the  Inven- 
tory of  Charters,  Dundee,  No.  161.  The  Clepington  said  to  have  belonged  to 
Guthrie  was  probably  the  superiority  of  Easter  and  AVester  Clepington,  which 
had  been  sold  by  the  Town  of  Dundee  on  17th  September,  1766,  and  bought 
by  William  Guthrie  for  £235  sterling. 

Wedderburn  of  Easter  Clepington  appears  to  have  sold  that  estate  to  David 
Arkley,  at  that  time  tenant  of  Ethiebeaton.  He  was  a  member  of  a  family 
who,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  had  occupied  farms  in  the  parishes  of  ^lurroes 
and  Monifieth.  On  the  death  of  a  brother,  a  merchant  in  London,  he  suc- 
ceeded to  a  fortune  and  bought  Easter  Clepington.  He  married  Margaret 
Crichton.  He  died  2d  August,  1822,  aged  74  years,  and  his  wife  on  19th 
November,  1836,  aged  86  years.  They  left  a  son,  Peter,  born  in  1776,  who 
succeeded  to  Clepington. 

Peter  Arkley  bought  the  estate  of  Dunninald,  in  the  parish  of  Craig,  in 
1811.  In  1814  he  married  a  daughter  of  Dr  Henderson,  of  Dundee,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons.  On  his  death  on  31st  December,  1825,  his  eldest  son, 
Patrick,  succeeded  to  Dunninald;  and  Clepington  descended  to  his  second  son, 
Robert,  who  in  1856  sold  the  property  to  William  Neish  of  Tannadice,  which 
estate  he  purchased  in  1870.  ]\lr  Neish  has  feued  the  greater  part  of  the  lands 
of  Easter  Clepington,  and  many  buildings  have  been  erected  upon  it. 

The  lands  of  Wester  Clepington  and  Hogsfauld  belonged  to  the  Town  of 
Dundee  until  about  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  they  appear 
to  have  been  acquired  by  Thomas  Abercrombie,  a  merchant  in  Dundee,  the 
Town  retaining  the  superiority.  He  died  in  1735,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,   James,   a  shipmaster,   who  was  infbft  in  May  of  that  year  in   his 


Chap.  XXXIII.]  •   ANGCTS  IN  PAEISHES— DUNDEE.  141 

father's  lands.  James  Speld,  writer  in  Dundee,  acquired  the  estate  from 
James  Abercrombie  on  12th  July,  1758,  and  on  15th  February,  1758,  he  dis- 
poned the  property  to  David  Maxwell,  merchant  in  Dundee,  and  the  Magis- 
trates of  Dundee,  the  superiors,  confirmed  the  sale. 

David  Abercrombie,  the  eldest  son  of  James,  above  mentioned,  may  have 
had  some  claim  on  the  property,  as  on  21st  December,  1759,  he  renounced  all 
rights  to  the  lands  of  Wester  Clepington  to  David  Maxwell.  On  13th 
November,  1776,  David  Maxwell  disponed  the  lands  to  Alexander  Farquhar- 
son,  accountant  in  Edinburgh.  On  17th  May,  1781,  Alexander  Thoms,  mer- 
chant in  Dundee,  had  disposition  of  the  estate.  On  17th  September,  1760,  the 
superiority  of  Clepingtons  was  bought  by  William  Gruthrie  for  £235  sterling. 
Prior  to  May,  1781,  he  had  sold  it  to  Captain  John  Reid  of  Carnie,  as  his 
trustees  confirmed  the  purchase  by  Alexander  Thoms  on  18th  August,  1791. 

Alexander  Thoms  of  Wester  Clepington  married  Grace,  daughter  of  David 
Wise  of  Lunan  by  Grizel,  daughter  of  Tliomas  Henderson  of  G-range  of  Barry. 
He  was  also  proprietor  of  Rumgally,  in  Fife.  He  died  in  1809,  leaving  a  son, 
Alexander,  who  succeeded,  and  other  issue.  In  1835  Alexander  Thoms  of 
Clepington,  Rumgally,  and  Pitscottie,  married  Barbara,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Wise  of  Hillbank,  Dundee,  and  Claremont  in  Jamaica,  by  Ann,  second 
daughter  of  William  Chalmers  of  Glenericht,  Town  Clerk  of  Dundee.  Alex- 
ander Thoms  of  Rumgally  is  among  the  freeholders  of  Fife  in  the  Edinburgh 
Almanac  of  1821.     By  her  he  left  a  son,  John,  born  in  1837,  and  other  issue. 

The  lands  of  Wester  Clepington  have  remained  in  the  family  of  Thoms  since 
1781.  John  Thoms,  the  present  proprietor,  after  the  death  of  his  brothers,  as 
only  surviving  trustee,  gave  disposition  to  himself  of  the  estate  in  March, 
1863,  and  he  still  owns  the  property.  Mr  Thoms  was  educated  at  St  Andrews 
University,  and  resides  in  the  ancient  city.  He  is  a  J. P.  for  the  county  of 
Forfar.  The  lands  are  situate  to  the  north  of,  but  within  the  Parliamentary 
boundary  of  Dundee.  They  have  a  southern  exposure,  and  there  is  an  old 
mansion  house  surrounded  by  good  old  trees  upon  the  property. 

Alexander  Wise  of  Lunan  married  Margaret  Strachan  of  the  old  family  of 
that  name  in  the  Mearns.  By  her  he  had  a  son,  David  Wise,  who  married 
Grizel,  daughter  of  Thomas  Henderson  of  Grange  of  Barry,  and  succeeded  his 
father  in  Lunan.  He  sold  the  estate  of  Lunan,  and  died  in  September,  1803. 
His  son,  Thomas,  bought  the  estate  of  Hillbank,  Dundee,  and  Claremont,  in 
Jamaica.  He  married  Ann,  second  daughter  of  William  Chalmers  of  Glen- 
ericht, Town  Clerk  of  Dundee,  and  died  in  1816. 


142  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part.  XLY. 

Captain  William  Wise,  H.E.I.C.S.,  succeeded  his  father  in  Hillbank.  He 
died  unmarried,  4th  November,  1845.  Grace,  sister  of  Thomas  of  Hillbank, 
was  married  to  J.  Thoms  of  Clepington  and  Rumgally,  in  Fife,  and  has  issue. 
Barbara,  daughter  of  Thomas  Wise  of  Hillbank,  was  married  to  John  Thoms 
of  Clepington  and  Pitscottie^  Fife,  and  has  issue.  On  the  death  of  Captain 
William  Wise  of  Hillbank,  his  brother,  Thomas  Alexander  Wise,  M.D.,  suc- 
ceeded to  Hillbank.  He  was  for  many  years  a  physician  in  the  service  of  the 
Hon.  East  India  Company,  held  staff  appointments  at  various  stations  in 
India,  and  was  Principal  of  the  Hoogly  and  Dacca  Colleges.  He  is  the 
author  of  several  professional  and  educational  works,  and  now  resides  at 
Inchyre  Abbey,  Newburgh,  Fife. 

In  the  middle  of  this  century  Hillbank  House  was  a  comfortable  residence, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Dundee,  with  fine  sylvan  surroundings,  but  the  whole  of  the 
estate  has  been  feued  and  built  upon,  and  what  was  green  fields  is  now  streets, 
with  lofty  buildings  on  each  side  of  them,  inhabited  by  a  dense  population. 

The  following  service  of  the  heir  to  the  Lindsay  properties  in  Dundee,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  is  interesting. 

On  1st  August,  1615,  George  Lindsay,  second  son  of  Sir  Henry  Lindsay  of 
Careston,  Kt.,  heir  male  of  Sir  John  Lindsay,  son  of  Lord  Henry,  his  brother, 
was  retoured  (No.  84)  in  100  merks  from  the  great  customs  of  Dundee ;  the 
Hospital  and  tenement  of  land  called  the  Earl's  Hospital  (hospitium  comitis) 
in  the  burgh  of  Dundee  ;  the  patronage  of  the  chapel  in  the  hospital  founda- 
tion ;  in  the  rock  called  St  Nicholas  Crag  in  the  water  off  the  burgh  of  Dundee, 
with  the  patronage  of  the  Chapel  of  St  Nicholas,  on  the  said  rock  of  St 
Nicholas ;  with  the  right  of  patronage  of  the  five  chaplains  of  St  George  the 
Martyr,  and  all  the  chaplains  in  the  Parish  Church  foundation. 

William  Ogilvy  Dalgleish  of  Mayfield,  in  this  parish,  and  Woodbourne 
and  Baltilly,  in  the  County  of  Fife,  is  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Captain  James 
Ogilvy  Dalgleish,  R.N  ,  J.P.  and  D.L.  of  Woodburn,  in  the  County  of  Fife, 
who  died  in  1875,  by  Isabella,  daughter  of  the  late  David  Martin,  merchant,  of 
Dundee.  He  was  born  in  1832,  and  in  1860  married  Ehzabeth,  only  daughter 
of  the  late  Francis  Molison  of  Errol  Park  and  Murie,  by  Eliza,  daughter 
of  the  late  William  Baxter  of  Balgavies.  He  is  a  Justice  of  Peace  in  the 
Counties  of  Fife,  Forfar,  and  Perth,  and  a  D.L.  for  Fifeshire  ;  and  merchant 
and  partner  of  the  great  manufacturing  firm  of  Baxter   Brothers  &  Co., 


Chap.  XXXIIL]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  143 

Dundee.  He  recently  acquired  a  considerable  part  of  the  estate  of  Craigie 
from  Robert  M'Gravin,  the  proprietor.  It  adjoins  the  grounds  of  his  mansion 
of  Mayfield. 

Sir  William  Bruce  of  Earlshall,  Kt.,  and  Margaret  Meldrum,  his  wife,  ob- 
tained charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  all  the  town  and  lands  of  Craigie  Wallace, 
&c.,  and  lands  of  Longforgan,  dated  10th  February,  1.539.  He  married  secondly, 
Agnes,  daughter  of  James  Scrymgeour  of  Dudhope  and  Mariot  Stewart. 

On  20th  March,  1623,  Janet,  Margaret,  and  Helen  Bruce,  heirs  portioners 
of  Iiobert  Bruce,  junior  of  Pitlethie,  then-  father,  were  each  retoured  (Nos.  145, 
G,  7)  in  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Wallace  Craigie,  in  the  barony  of 
Dundee— A.E.,  25s ;  N.E.,  £5.  On  6th  August,  1633,  William  Bruce  of 
Earlshall,  heir  of  Sir  William  Bruce  of  Earlshall,  Knight,  his  great-grand- 
father, was  retoured  (No.  218)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Wallace  Craigie. 

On  22d  August,  1643,  Sir  Andrew  Bruce  of  Earlshall,  Knight,  heir  of 
William  Bruce  of  Earlshall,  his  flither,  was  retoured  (No.  284)  in  Wallace 
Craigie.  On  21st  February,  1665,  Andrew  Bruce  of  Earlshall,  heir  of  Sir 
Andrew  Bruce,  Knight,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  411)  in  the  town  and 
lands  of  Wallace  Craigie. 

Shortly  after  the  date  of  last  retour,  the  lands  of  Wallace  Craigie,  and  of  the 
Grange  of  Barry,  were  acquired  by  a  burgess  family  of  Dundee  named  Watson. 
Alexander  Watson  of  Wallace  Craigie  was  Provost  of  Dundee  in  1700. 

In  the  year  1789  the  estate  of  Wallace  Craigie,  which  consisted  of  55  Scots 
acres,  or  about  65^^  acres  imperial,  was  sold  by  public  roup.  It  holds  off  the 
Crown.  The  property  was  put  up  at  £2000,  and  bought  by  George  Constable, 
writer,  Edinburgh,  the  antiquary,  the  maternal  uncle  of  the  present  proprietor, 
at  £2170.  The  Nine  Trades  wanted  the  property,  and  competed  for  it,  but, 
unfortunately  for  the  Incorporation,  those  bidding  for  it  stopped  too  soon,  and 
did  not  purchase  the  estate. 

The  whole  of  the  lands  have  been  feued,  and  the  feu-duty  derived  from  the 
property  by  the  representatives  of  the  antiquary  amounts  to  £2450  per  annum. 
That  sum  divided  annually  among  the  poor  of  the  Nine  Trades  would  have 
made  their  firesides  comfortable  in  their  old  age. 

The  estate  when  sold  was  rented  at  £80  per  annum,  and  lay  in  the  landward 
part  of  the  parish,  but  it  is  now  wholly  within  the  town  of  Dundee.  The  pro- 
perty now  belongs  to  Colonel  Charles  Brown  Constable  of  Wallace  Craigie, 
late  H.E.I.C.S.     The  property  is  held  under  a  deed  of  entail  executed  by  the 


144  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

antiquary  shortly  after  he  made  the  purchase.       He  was  an  intimate  friend  of 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  who  frequently  visited  him  at  Wallace  Craigie. 

The  superiority  of  Baldovie  belonged  to  the  Scrymgeours,  Viscounts  of 
Dudhope,  and  they  may  also  have  been  proprietors  of  the  lands  at  an  early 
period.  The  estate  was  acquired  by  Thomas  Clayhills,  a  burgess  of  Dundee, 
about  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century.  During  that  century  members  of  the 
family  were  Magistrates,  and  repeatedly  held  the  office  of  Dean  of  Guild  of 
Dundee,  On  14th  June,  1633,  Robert  Clayhills,  heir  of  his  father,  Robert, 
was  retoured  (No,  216)  in  the  lands  of  Baldovie,  with  the  mill  thereof.  The 
family  were  designed  of  Baldovie  and  Drumgeith,  but  after  they  acquired  the 
estate  of  Invergowrie,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  they  were 
designed  of  that  property.  On  22d  September,  1664,  David  Clayhills  suc- 
ceeded his  father,  Robert,  in  the  lands  of  Baldovie,  in  the  barony  of  Dundee. 
On  14th  January,  1669,  James  Clayhills  succeeded  to  Baldovie, 

The  lands  of  Baldovie  and  Drumgeith  appear  to  have  remained  in  possession 
of  the  Clayhills  family  until  1727-S,  in  which  year  the  Town  Council  of 
Dundee  purchased  both  estates  for  the  Hospital  at  the  price  of  £15,219  6s  8d 
Scots.  Robert  Reid  of  Baldovie  was  appointed  M.P.  for  Forfarshire  in  the 
first  Parliament  of  Queen  Anne,  1702,  in  succession  to  John  Fullarton  of 
Kinnaber,  deceased,  and  he  served  during  the  7-10  sessions  of  that  Parliament. 
(Vol.  II.,  p.  216.)  He  may  have  acquired  Baldovie  from  the  Clayhills  family, 
but  we  rather  think  he  had  possessed  one  of  the  other  estates  in  the  county,  of 
the  same  name,  and  not  Baldovie  in  this  parish.  In  1734  Baldovie  was  feued 
to  Richard  Ilolden  at  a  feu-duty  of  £333  6s  8d.  In  1766-7  the  Town  Council 
sold  the  superiorities  of  Baldovie  and  Drumgeith  to  Thomas  Milne  of  Milne- 
field  at  £2300  sterling. 

Richard  Holden  had  discovered  a  mode  of  bleaching  coarse  linens  with  kelp, 
and  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  Manufactures  then  proposed  to  erect  a  bleachfield 
there  on  his  principle.  In  the  "  Linen  Trade,"  p.  449,  it  is  mentioned  that 
Holden  fitted  up  a  bleachfield  at  Pitkerro,  near  Dundee, 

Baldovie  appears  to  have  come  into  possession  of  a  person  named  Johnston. 
In  1755  Alexander  Johnston  of  Baldovie  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  David 
Graham  of  Claverhouse.  He  was  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  London  in  1757. 
The  lands  were  acquired  by  David  Anderson,  and  he  possessed  them  in  1822. 
They  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  Robert  M' Gavin  of  Ballumbie,  who 
is  the  present  proprietor  of  Baldovie, 


Chap.  XXXIIL]     ANGUS  m  PAEISHES.— DUNDEE.  145 

In  the  old  Valuation  Roll  of  1683,  Baldovie  and  Driimgeith  are  entered 
together,  the  valued  rent  being  £420.  In  the  Roll  of  1822  these  two  properties 
are  entered  as  follows  : — 

Baldovie,  David  Anderson,  &c,,            .            £175     0  0 

Drumgeith,  Patrick  Kerr,               .             .         141     4  0 

Kellyfield,  James  Lorimer,       .            .                95  18  0 

Montpelier,  John  Alison,    .            .            .            7  18  0 


£420     0     0 

The  earliest  notice  of  Drumgeith  we  have  seen  is  in  the  time  of  King  David 
II.  It  then  belonged  to  John  Inner peffer.  He  resigned  Drumgeith, 
Godfraistoune  (Gotterston),  and  King's  Lour,  and  the  King  gave  Andrew 
Burr  a  charter  of  these  lands.  (In.  to  Ch.,  48-33.)  Very  shortly  thereafter, 
at  Barbrothe,  on  16th  April,  1343,  he  resigned  them  into  the  King's  hands. 
The  two  latter  properties,  and  Langleyis  were  given  by  charter  to  Donald 
Strachan,  but  Drumgeith  is  not  mentioned.  (In.  to  Ch.,  48-34.)  Langleyis 
may  have  been  given  instead  of  Drumgethe,  or  it  may  be  another  name  for  the 
same  place. 

The  estate  of  Drumgeith  was  acquired  by  the  Gardynes  of  that  ilk  in  the 
sixteenth  century.  On  11th  November,  1597,  John  Garden  of  Drumgeith 
was  a  consenting  party  to  the  sale  of  Cononsyth  by  David  Garden  of  Jjeys  and 
his  son,  to  William  Rait  of  Hallgreen.  On  31st  October,  1596,  John  Garden 
of  Drumgeith  consented  to  the  charter  of  Muirhouse  by  David  Garden  of  Leys 
to  David  Maxwell  of  Tealing. 

The  Glamis  family  had  probably  acquired  the  property  from  the  Gardens. 
In  November,  1596,  Patrick,  Lord  Glamis,  succeeded  John,  Lord  Glamis,  his 
father,  in  Drumgeith.  On  30th  April,  1617,  John,  Earl  of  Kinghorne,  was 
retoured  (No.  563)  as  heir  of  Patrick,  Lord  Glamis,  his  father,  in  same  lands 
and  many  others.  Shortly  thereafter  Drumgeith  was  acquired  by  Robert 
Clayhills  of  Baldovie.  On  4th  November,  1664,  David  Clayhills  succeeded 
his  father  in  the  lands  of  Drumgeith,  in  the  barony  of  Baikie.  In  1669 
James  Clayhills  was  laird.  The  Town  acquired  Drumgeith  for  the  Hospital 
in  1727-8,  and  they  built  the  present  mansion  house  of  Drumgeith  in  1737.  In 
1740  Drumgeith  was  feued  to  Bailie  Reid  for  an  annual  feu-duty  of  £420 
sterlino;. 

Drumgeith  was  a  large  estate  at  one  time,  but  portions  of  it  were  given 
off  at  different  periods.  The  estate  of  Whitfield,  in  the  parish  of  Mains,  which 
T 


UG  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

belongs  to  George  Keil  of  Whitfieldj  was  previously  part  of  Drumgeith.  The 
lands  of  Kellyfield  were  also  given  off  Drumgeith.  They  were  owned  by 
the  Lorimers  for  a  century  before  1875,  when  James  Lorimer,  pro- 
fessor of  law,  sold  it  to  John  Laing,  merchant,  Dundee,  who  lately 
built  a  new  mansion  house  and  made  other  improvements  on  the  estate. 
Montpelier  was  also  sold  off  Drumgeith.  John  Alison,  merchant,  Dundee, 
was  proprietor  in  1822  and  afterwards.  It  subsequently  passed  through 
several  hands,  and  it  now  belongs  to  William  Hay,  Town  Clerk  of  Dundee, 
who  has  done  much  to  improve  the  estate,  and  both  Kellyfield  and  MontpeUer 
are  good  and  pretty  residences.  The  estate  of  Drumgeith  belonged  to  Patrick 
Kerr  in  1822.  It  was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  late  Edward  Baxter  of 
Kincaldrum,  His  trustees  sold  the  property  to  C.  D.  H.  Kirkaldy,  and  his 
trustees  sold  it  to  Robert  M'Gavin  of  Ballumbie,  the  present  proprietor. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  Duntrune  included  the  property  now  known 
as  Craighill,  the  valuation  of  both  being  £46G  13s  4cl.  In  the  valuation  of 
1822  the  lands  are  divided.  Craighall  then  belonged  to  David  Blair,  a 
Magistrate  of,  and  stampmaster  in,  Dundee,  the  value  of  it  being  £93  19s  Id. 
Duntrune  then  belonged  in  part  to  Miss  A.  Graham,  of  the  value  of 
£70  Is  9id  ;  and  the  balance  to  William  Stirling— value,  £302  12s  5|d  ;  in 
all,  £466  13s  4d  as  above.  On  the  death  of  David  Blair,  who  was  locally 
known  in  Dundee  as  Justice  Blair,  David  Blair,  his  son,  succeeded  to  the 
property.  He  sold  the  property  of  Craighill,  left  Dnndee,  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  St  Andrews.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Provost  Bell  of  Belmont, 
Dundee,  by  whom  he  has  a  family. 

John  Plepburn  Millar,  merchant  in  Glasgow,  had  a  son,  John,  born  in  1816. 
He  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  was  LL.D.,  1838,  and  called  to 
the  Bar,  1842.  He  married,  in  1863,  Ehzabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late 
Charles,  Lord  Neaves,  was  Solicitor-General  for  Scotland,  1867-8,  and 
appointed  a  Senator  of  the  College  of  Justice,  1874,  when  he  took  the  title  of 
Lord  Craighill,  from  the  name  of  his  estate  in  this  parish. 

The  lands  of  Craighill  are  to  the  north  of  Duntrune  Hill  and  left  bank  of  the 
Fithie,  a  small  stream  which  rises  in  Craigowl  and  falls  into  the  Dighty  at 
Balunie.  They  are  protected  from  the  north  winds  by  a  hill  or  ridge  behind 
them,  and  the  farmhouse  commands  an  extensive  view. 

Sir  Robert  Graham  of  Fintry  married  Janet,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir 


Chap.  XXXIIL]      ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— DUNDEE.  147 

Ricliard  Lovell  of  Ballumbie,  had  issue — Kobert.  his  heir  ;  John,  ancestor  of 
the  Grahams  of  Claverhouse  and  Duntrune.  He  acquired  the  estate  of  Bal- 
argus  from  the  Earl  of  Angus,  and  afterwards  Kirkton.  By  Margaret,  daughter 
of  John  Bethune  of  Balfour,  he  had  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  living  in 
1541,  who  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Kobert  Lundin  of  Balgony.  He  died 
about  1580,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  elder  son,  Sir  William  Graham  of 
Claverhouse,  who  died  in  1G42,  leaving  by  Marian,  his  wife,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Fotheringham  of  Powrie,  two  sons,  George  of  Claverhouse,  and 

I.  Walter,  ancestor  of  the  Grahams  of  Duntrune.  He  married,  in  1G30, 
Elizabeth,  sister  of  Alexander  Guthrie,  and  was  father  of 

II.  David  Graham  of  Duntrune,  who  died  in  1706,  leaving  a  son, 

III.  William  Graham  of  Duntrune,  who  assumed,  at  the  decease  of  David, 
third  Viscount  Dundee,  the  title  of  Viscount,  as  heir  male  of  Claverhouse.  He 
was  out  in  '15,  and  attainted  by  Act  of  Parliament.     His  eldest  son, 

IV.  James  Graham  of  Duntrune,  likewise  assumed  the  title,  joined  in  the 
rising  of '45,  and  was  also  attainted  for  treason.  He  had  previously,  in  1735, 
sold  Duntrune  to  his  uncle, 

V.  Alexander  Graham.     He  settled  the  estate  upon  his  brother, 

VI.  David  Graham,  who  then  became  of  Duntrune.  He  was  born  in  1687, 
and  died  in  1776,  having  married  Grisel,  daughter  of  Robert  Gardyne  of 
Lawton,  by  whom  he  left  a  son, 

VII.  Alexander  Graham  of  Duntrune,  who  married  Clementina,  daughter 
of  David  Gardyne  of  Lawton  or  Aliddleton,  and  had  by  her  one  son  and  several 
daughters.     He  died  in  1782. 

VIII.  Alexander  Graham  of  Duntrune.  He  died  in  1802  without  issue, 
and  his  sisters  became  co-heirs.     Of  these, 

IX.  Amelia,  the  eldest  daughter,  became  the  wife  of  Patrick  Stirling  of 
Pittendreich,  on  18th  April,  1781  ;  and  Clementina,  who  in  1794  was  married 
to  Captain  Gavin  Drummond  of  Keltic.  Their  only  child,  Clementina,  was 
married  to  David,  ninth  Earl  of  Airlie,  in  1812.  She  was  the  mother  of 
David,  the  tenth  Earl  of  Airlie. 

Patrick  Stirling,  who  was  son  of  William  Stirling  of  Pittendreich,  had  by 
his  wife,  Amelia  Graham,  William,  their  heir  ;  Alexander,  born  in  July,  1796, 
who  died  in  1801 ;  Clementina  Jean,  who,  in  1807,  was  married  to  Captain 
John  Mortlock  Lacon,  72d  Highlanders,  of  Great  Yarmouth,  second  son  of  the 
late  Sir  Edmond  Lacon,  Bart.,  and  had  issue — John  Edmund ;  Henry,  died  in 
the  West  Indies,  and  several  other  sons  and  daughters. 


148  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

On  inheriting  Duntrune,  Mrs  Stirling  Graham  and  her  husband  assumed 
the  surname  and  arms  of  Graham  by  Royal  authority.  Their  only  surviving 
son, 

X.  William  Stirling  Graham,  born  12th  June,  1794,  succeeded  to  Dun- 
trune. He  died  without  issue  in  December,  1844,  aged  50  years,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  eldest  sister, 

Xr.  Miss  Clementina  Stirling  Graham.  She  was  well  known  as  the 
authoress  of  "  Mystifications."  She  was  born  in  the  Seagate  of  Dundee  on  4th 
May,  1782,  and  died  at  Duntrune,  23d  August,  1877,  aged  95  years.  She  was 
succeeded  by  her  above  mentioned  nephew, 

XII.  John  Edmund  Lacon,  the  present  proprietor. 

In  1844  he  married  Louisa  Matilda,  daughter  of  Edward  Shewell  of  Bryan- 
stone  Square,  London,  and  of  Lewis,  Sussex,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Frederick 
Graham  Lacon,  who  died  at  Madeira  in  1875. 

Miss  Stirling  Graham  was  buried  in  the  oid  burial  ground  of  the  Grahams 
of  Fintry,  at  Mains,  close  by  the  Castle  of  Mains,  near  Dundee.  In  memory 
of  his  aunt  Mr  Lacon  has  had  placed  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  Broughty 
Ferry,  a  beautiful  stained  glass  window.  The  laird  of  Duntrune  is  a  Justice 
of  Peace  for  tlie  County  of  Forfar,  and  he  takes  an  active  and  intelligent 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  county. 

The  bearings  of  Walter  Graham  of  Duntrune,  the  eldest  cadet  of  the 
Grahams  of  Claverhouse,  are — 

Arms — Three  piles  waved,  sable,  on  a  chief  engrailed,  of  the  second  as  many  escalops  as 

the  first,  a  double  tressure  counter-flowered,  gules. 
Crest — On  a  helmet  befitting  his  degree,  with  a  mantle  gules,  doubled  argent,  and  torse  of 

his  colours  is  set  for  his  crest,  a  flame  of  fire  issuing  out  of  the  torse  or  wreath  proper. 
Motto  in  an  escroU,  Eeda  sursum. 
Lyon  Oflice,  2Gth  November,  1823. 

The  proprietary  histories  of  Duntrune,  Balunie,  Baldovie,  and  others  in 
proximity  to  them  were,  to  a  considerable  extent,  intermixed  in  early  times, 
which  makes  it  difficult  to  make  the  proprietary  history  intelligible  without 
occasional  repetitions. 

The  lands  of  Duntrune  and  Balunie  had  been  Crown  property  in  the  reign 
of  King  Robert  Bruce.  That  ]\Ionarch  granted  a  charter  of  Duntrune  and 
Balluny  to  Walter  Northington.  (In.  to  Ch.,  81-71.)  Of  this  proprietor  we 
know  only  his  name,  and  cannot  tell  the  motives  which  induced  the  King  to 
bestow  these  lands  upon  him,  but  doubtless  he  had  been  an  active  partizau  of 


Chap.  XXXIIL]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  149 

the  King,  and  probably  accompanied  him  from  Enghind.  \Ye  do  not  know 
how  long  the  lands  remained  in  that  ftimily.  They  may  have  passed  from 
them  to  the  Ogilvies  of  Easter  Powrie,  as  we  find  them  in  possession  of  a 
member  of  that  family  at  an  early  date.  Alexander  Ogilvy  was  proprietor  of 
Duntrune  in  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century.  His  mother  was  Christian 
Glen,  the  daughter  of  Sir  John  Glen  and  Margaret  Erskine,  and  his  father, 
David  Ogilvy.  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Duntrune  had  a  charter  under  the  Great 
Seal  on  10th  May,  1439-40,  of  one  sixth  of  Inchmartine.  and  lands  in  Lanark- 
shire on  the  resignation  of  his  mother.  (Bal.  MSS.)  David  Ogilvy  of  Dun- 
trune was  a  witness  in  1497.  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  262.)  We  have  not  ascertained 
when  the  Ogilvies  disposed  of  Duntrune,  but  it  was  not  for  a  considerable  time 
after  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  Scrymgeours,  Constables  of  Dundee  and  Viscounts  of  Dudhope,  acquired 
the  lands  of  Duntrune,  Balunie,  Baldovie,  and  others,  very  probably  from  the 
Ogilvys  of  Easter  Powrie  and  Ogilvy.  They  retained  the  superiority  of  these 
properties  for  some  time  after  they  parted  with  the  lands  themselves. 

Walter  Graham,  son  of  John  Graham,  second  son  of  Sir  Eobert  Graham  of 
Fintry,  acquired  the  estate  of  Duntrune  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  On 
10th  November,  1629,  Walter  Graham  of  Duntrune  is  mentioned  (His.  of  C. 
of  S.,  p.  131),  and  the  lands  of  Duntrune  have  continued  in  the  family  since 
they  were  acquired  by  the  said  Walter.  In  1735  the  estate  was  sold  by  one 
member  of  the  family  to  another  of  them,  in  view  of  a  rising  on  behalf  of  the 
Stuarts,  in  which  the  seller  intended  to  take  part.  It  was  a  wise  precaution, 
as  James  Graham,  the  rebel  laird,  was  attainted  for  taking  part  in  the 
rebellion,  but  the  lands  having  been  previously  conveyed  to  Alexander  Graham, 
who  took  no  part  in  the  rising,  they  were  saved  to  the  family.  The  estate  of 
Duntrune  now  belongs  to  John  Edmund  Lacon  of  Duntrune,  descended,  on 
the  female  side,  from  the  Grahams  of  Duntrune,  as  is  shown  by  the  short 
genealogical  account  given  above.  The  superiority  of  the  lands  of  Duntrune, 
which  had  been  acquired  by  the  Town  of  Dundee,  was,  on  29th  October,  1766, 
sold  to  Alexander  Graham,  merchant,  Arbroath,  for  the  sum  of  £770  sterling. 

The  old  mansion  house  of  Duntrune  was  built  in  the  sixteenth  century,  but 
we  have  not  ascertained  the  year  in  which  it  was  erected.  The  lands  were  then 
the  property  of  the  Scrymgeours  of  Dudhope,  as  they  were  not  acquired  by  the 
Grahams  until  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

In  182.5  William  StirHng  Graham  had  the  old  house  of  Duntrune  taken 
down,  and  the  present  elegant  mansion  built  on  the  site  of  its  predecessor.     It 


150  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

consists  of  two  floors,  besides  a  sunk  storey  on  the  north  side,  where  the  ground 
falls  rapidly.  The  principal  rooms  are  on  the  first  floor,  and  the  windows  open 
upon  the  lawn,  which  fronts  the  house  on  the  south.  Between  the  lofty 
windows  are  pilasters  the  heiglit  of  the  walls,  surmounted  by  small  pinnacles, 
which  gives  the  front  a  handsome  appearance.  The  door,  with  portico,  faces 
the  east,  and  the  appearance  of  the  mansion,  whether  seen  from  south,  east, 
or  west,  is  very  pleasing. 

The  situation  of  Duntrune  House  is  one  of  the  finest  anywhere  to  be  found. 
On  the  north  is  a  small  hill  covered  with  timber,  which  shelters  it  from  the 
cold  northern  winds  ;  to  the  west  is  a  fine  garden,  beyond  which  is  a  deep  den, 
the  lofty  sides  richly  clothed  with  a  profusion  of  thriving  trees  and  shrubbery, 
and  shade  and  moisture  loving  herbaceous  perennial  plants,  through  which 
runs  the  Fithie,  a  small  clear  and  sparkling  stream.  The  east  side  of 
this  pretty  ravine  belongs  to  the  laird  of  Duntrune,  and  the  west  side  to  the 
laird  of  Ballumbie,  whose  mansion  is  near  the  lower  end  of  the  den,  and  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  stream.  The  lawn  extends  a  little  to  the  east  of  the 
mansion,  beyond  which  there  is  a  plantation  of  noble  trees,  some  ot  which  are 
of  great  size. 

The  lawn  is  beautifully  kept,  and  looks  and  feels  like  a  velvety  verdant 
carpet,  agreeable  to  the  eye  and  pleasant  to  the  feet.  Outwith  the  lawn  is  a 
spacious  terrace,  extending  in  length  to  quite  half  a  mile,  raised  some  seven  or 
eight  feet  above  the  spacious  park  in  front  of  it.  From  this  terrace  there  is  a 
magnificent  prospect  to  the  east,  south,  and  west,  of  the  ocean,  the  Tay,  the 
eastern  and  northern  portions  of  Fife,  of  Dundee,  and  westward  to  the  Ochils, 
with  much  of  the  intermediate  scenery  in  each  direction,  Mr  Lacon  is  proud 
of  his  terrace,  and  well  he  may  be,  as  there  are  few  to  equal  it,  and,  all  things 
considered,  perhaps  none  in  the  country  to  surpass  it. 

In  the  mansion  house  of  Duntrune  there  is  a  remarkably  handsome  large 
folio  volume,  bound  in  rich  silk  velvet  of  a  reddish  purple  colour,  in  which  Mr 
Lacon  has  arranged  in  chronological  order  many  interesting  documents  con- 
nected with  the  Duntrune  property,  and  several  documents  which  belonged  to 
John,  first  Viscount  of  Dundee.  The  volume  is  kept  in  a  neatly  ornamented 
hardwood  case.     Among  the  documents  are  the  following  : — 

Commission  in  favour  of  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse  to  be  Colonel  of 
H.M.  newly  formed  reghnent  of  Horse  in  Scotland,  It  is  dated  Whitehall, 
25th  December,  1G84,  and  signed  by  Charles  II. 

Contract  of  marriage  between  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse  and  Lady  Jean 


Chap.  XXXIII.]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  151 

Cochrane,  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Cochrane,  eldest  son  of  the  first  Earl  of 
Dundonald,  dated  9th  June,  1684. 

Letter  on  KM.  special  service  to  Colonel  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  that  the 
King  had  appointed  him  a  Brigadier  both  of  Horse  and  Foot,  23d  May,  1686. 

Commission  to  be  Major-General,  in  favour  of  Colonel  John  Graham  of 
Claverhouse,  of  all  the  Forces  on  East  Coast  of  Scotland.  20th  September,  1686. 

Patent  of  nobility  in  favour  of  Major-General  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse, 
creating  him  Viscount  of  Dundee,  and  Lord  Graham  of  Claverhouse.  It  is 
dated  at  Whitehall,  12th  November,  1688,  bears  the  signature  of  King 
James  II.  of  England  and  VII  of  Scotland,  and  sealed  at  Edinburgh,  19th 
November,  1 688. 

Document  signed  by  King  James  VIL,  23d  June,  1688.  Entitled  the 
Mustar  Poll,  30th  June,  1688. 

Eental  of  the  late  Viscount  Dundie's  estate,  given  by  David  Graham  of  Dun- 
trune,  for  1689— Total,  £7739  18s  4d  Scots,  or  £6id  19s  lOd  sterling;  Lady 
Dundee's  jointure,  £3333  6s  8d  Scots,  or  £277  15s  6d  sterling. 

In  the  volume  there  are  inventories  of  the  titles  of  Lord  Dundee's  lands, 
delivered  by  the  laird  of  Duntrune  to  the  tutors  of  the  Marquis  of  Douglas. 
Each  property  is  detailed  by  itself,  with  numbers  showing  the  progress  of  the 
deeds. 

There  is  a  document  entitled  Confiscation  of  Claypots  and  Gotterston. 

In  a  glass  case  which  stands  on  the  sideboard  in  tlie  diningroom  at  Duntrune, 
is  kept  a  pistol  taken  from  Viscount  Dundee's  belt  at  Killiecrankie,  17th 
June,  1689. 

Extract  letter  from  His  Majesty  King  James  VIL  of  Scotland  (II.  of 
England)  to  the  Constable  of  Dundee,  declaring  the  Constable  to  be  the  first 
Magistrate  of  Dundee,  dated  19th  March,  1685-6,  and  registered  at  Dundee, 
22d  June,  1686.  Major-General  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse  appears  to 
have  pi'eviously  received  from  King  Charles  11.  a  grant  of  the  office  of  Con- 
stabulary of  Dundee,  with  Dudhope  Castle  and  part  of  the  Dudhope  estates. 

Gift  of  four  pennies  on  the  pint  of  ale  brewed  within  the  town  of  Dundee,  to 
the  Constable  of  Dundee,  by  King  James  VIL,  1687.  This  would  have 
proved  a  very  valuable  gift  had  Lord  Dundee  been  spared  to  enjoy  it.  On 
11th  March,  1689,  he  granted  to  the  town  a  discharge  for  one  thousand  merks, 
being  the  collection  of  the  gift  of  two  merks  upon  each  boll  of  malt  brewed  and 
sold  within  the  town  of  Dundee.  The  money  had  been  paid  by  the  collector 
of  the  tax,  John  Graham,  to  Alexander  Cathcart,  for  behoof  of  his  Lordship 


152  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

and  tlje  disclmrge  is  to  the  term  of  Martinmas,  1688.     He  did  not  live  to  draw 
another  payment  from  the  tax. 

We  sincerely  thank  Mr  Lacon  for  an  inspection  of  the  various  very  interest- 
ing articles  enumerated  above,  and  for  the  details  given  respecting  them.  We 
were  also  permitted  for  a  few  hours  one  day  to  take  notes  from  the  Inventories 
of  Charters  referred  to  above,  from  which  some  of  the  details  we  give  of  the  pro- 
prietary history  of  the  Graham  lands  were  taken.  In  expectation  of  being  per- 
mitted to  continue  the  perusal  of  the  Index,  which  would  have  enabled  us  to 
make  up  a  complete  proprietary  account  of  the  lands  in  this  parish,  we  delayed 
giving  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Dundee  in  its  alphabetical  order  among  the 
parishes  in  Volume  III.  We  regret  this  now,  as  our  waiting  has  been  to  no 
purpose,  Mr  Lacon  having  declined  to  permit  us  to  take  any  more  notes  from 
the  Inventory.  This  is  of  consequence  to  him,  as  it  prevents  us  from  showing 
the  important,  noble,  and  honourable  position  which  the  family  of  Graham  at 
one  time  held  in  this  county. 

In  the  course  of  the  preparation  of  this  work  we  have  had  occasion  to  ask 
for  information  regarding  the  family  history  of  many  of  the  families,  noble  and 
gentle,  within  it ;  and  also  particulars  regarding  the  proprietary  history  of 
their  lands,  and  other  details.  In  every  case,  with  this  exception,  we  have 
been  received  in  the  most  courteous  manjier,  had  charters  and  other  writs 
given  us  for  perusal,  or  particulars  fully  supplied  by  the  parties  or  their  agents. 
It  is  necessary  to  mention  this  as  our  apology  for  excluding  Dundee  from  its 
proper  place,  and  inserting  it  later  on  without  the  additional  details.  We 
regret  the  necessity. 

King  Eobert  II.  (1370-90)  granted  to  Thomas  de  Fothringhay  a  charter  of 
the  lands  of  Balewny  (Balunie)  He  had  probably  been  a  member  of  the 
family  of  Powrie  Wester.  (In.  to  Ch.;  122-109.)  On  26th  March,  1437, 
Thomas  Fothringham  of  Balunie  is  a  witness.  {Reg.  de  Pan.,  229  )  On  that 
day  he  and  others  visited  the  Earl  of  Athole  in  prison  in  Edinburgh  regarding 
the  succession  of  Sir  Thomas  Maule  to  the  Lordship  of  Brechin.  (Beg.  de 
Pan.,  23  ) 

The  Grahams  appear  to  have  acquired  the  lands  of  Balunie  from  the 
Fothringhams  shortly  after  the  date  of  the  visit  to  Edinburgh  in  1437.  On 
13th  October,  1480,  instrument  of  resignation  of  Balunie  and  mill,  and  two 
third  parts  of  the  lands  of  Wariston  by  Kobert  Graham  of  Fintray  to  Sir  J. 
Scrymgeour  of  Dudhope,  in  favour  of  John  Graham  of  Balunie.       Sasine  by 


Chap.  XXXIIL]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  153 

Sir  J.  Scrymgeour  in  favour  of  John  Graliam  of  these  properties  followed  on 
19th  April,  1521.  Instrument  of  resignation  ofBalunie  and  mill,  and  two- 
parts  of  Wariston,  by  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  in  the  hands  of  Sir  John 
Scrymgeour  of  Dudhope,  for  new  infeffcment,  28th  January,  1539.  On  5th 
January,  1578,  Sir  J.  Scrymgeour  of  Dudhope  gave  charter  of  the  lands  of 
Balunie  with  the  mill,  and  lands  of  AVariston,  to  William  Graham,  son  of 
David  Graham  of  Fintry,  upon  an  assignation  by  said  David  Graham  in  the 
Constable's  hands.  On  10th  November,  1598,  William  Graham  of  Balunie  is 
mentioned. 

In  the  sixteenth,  seventeenth,  and  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  lands 
of  Wariston  are  frequently  mentioned,  generally  in  connection  with  Balunie, 
Claypots,  or  Gotterston.  There  are  no  lands  of  that  name  in  the  district 
now,  but  we  are  informed  by  old  people  that  there  was  last  century  a  few 
cottar  houses  on  each  side  of  the  highway  between  Dundee  and  Arbroath,  close 
by  where  the  present  road  to  Balunie  leaves  it,  which  were  known  by  a  name 
similar  to  Waiistcn,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  lands  of  Wariston  lay  around 
the  town,  and  are  now  included  in  the  farms  of  Balunie,  Claypots,  and  Gotter- 
ston. 

In  the  seventeenth  century  the  lands  of  Balunie  were  in  possession  of  the 
Scrymgeours,  Viscounts  of  Dudhope.  On  4th  November,  1644,  John,  Viscount 
of  Dudhope,  was  served  heir  to  his  father,  Viscount  James,  in  the  lands  of 
Balunie,  but,  we  think,  of  the  superiority  only. 

The  lands  and  mill  of  Bahmie,  with  Gotterston,  Claypots,  and  others  in  the 
parish,  came  into  possession  of  John  Graham,  Viscount  Dundee,  partly  by 
inheritance,  and  partly  in  gift  from  James  VII.  After  his  death  his  estates 
were  forfeited,  and  given  by  William  III.  to  the  Marquis  of  Douglas,  from 
whom  they  have  descended  by  steps  to  the  Earl  of  Home,  the  present  pro- 
prietor. 

John  of  Inverpeffer  is  the  first  proprietor  of  the  lands  of  Gotterston  with 
whom  we  have  met.  He  resigned  Godfraistoune,  Drumgethe,  and  King's 
Lour  to  David  II.,  and  that  monarch  granted  a  charter  of  these  three  estates 
to  Andrew  Burr.  Of  this  person  we  have  no  information  beyond  his  acquisi- 
tion of  these  lands.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  held  them  long,  as  the  same 
King  granted  a  charter  to  Donald  Strathechin,  and  Annabell,  his  wife,  of  the 
lands  of  Kingslour,  Langleyis,  Godfraistoune,  which  Andrew  Burr  resigned  in 
the  King's  hands  at  Barbrothe,  16th  April,  1343  years  ;  the  lands  of  Carden- 
u 


154  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

barclaj,  an  annual  furtli  of  the  mill  of  Panmure,  and  other  lands  in  Aberdeen- 
shire, which  the  King  also  gave  him.  This  Donald  Strachan  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  son  of  tSir  James  Strachan  and  Agneta  de  Thornton.  By 
Annabel!,  his  wife,  he  had  a  daughter.  Christian,  married  to  Sir  Malcolm 
Fleming  of  Biggar,  ancestor  of  the  noble  house  of  Wigton.  (In.  to  Ch., 
48-33-4.) 

On  16th  April,  1524,  Patrick,  fourth  Lord  Gray,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  had  a 
charter  of  Balgillo,  Broughty,  Gotterston,  Pitkerro,  Kiagslaw,  with  the  customs 
of  Dundee.    He  died  1541. 

On  28th  April,  1542,  Patrick,  fifth  Lord  Gray,  Sheriff,  nephew  of  the  fourth 
Lord,  had  charter  of  Broughty,  Gotterston,  Pitkerro,  Kingslaw,  third  part  of  the 
barony  of  Dundee,  annual  customs  of  Dundee,  erecting  the  lands  into  a  free 
barony  on  the  resignation  of  Andrew  Straton  of  Lauriston,  one  of  the  two  heirs 
and  successors  of  Patrick,  fourth  Lord  Gray.     (Doug.  I.,  669-70.) 

On  15th  June,  1595,  charter  of  alienation  of  Gotterston  by  Patrick,  Lord 
Gray,  and  Patrick,  the  Master  of  Gray,  to  William  Gray  of  Balunie  in  prin- 
cipal, and  an  annual  of  fifty  bolls  victual  out  of  the  lands  of  Hilton  and  Milton 
of  Craigie,  and  furth  of  the  lands  of  Balgillo.  Gotterston  appears  to  have 
passed  from  the  Grays  to  the  Grahams. 

Sir  William  Graham  of  Claverhouse  obtained  a  charter  under  the  Great 
Seal,  of  Gotterston,  Claypots,  &c.,  on  8th  June,  1625.  He  had  probably  pur- 
chased the  lands  of  Claypots  from  the  Strachans  in  the  early  years  of  the  cen- 
tury, although  the  Crown  charter  was  not  obtained  for  some  years  thereafter. 
On  18th  June,  1678,  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  heir  male  of  Sir  William, 
his  great-grandfather,  was  retoured  (N'o.  475)  in  the  lands  of  Gotterston, 
pendicle  at  Northferry,  with  fishings,  and  other  lands. 

After  the  death  of  John  Graham,  Viscount  Dundee,  at  Killiecrankie,  on 
17th  June,  1689,  his  estates  were  forfeited.  They  consisted  of  Claverhouse, 
Claypots,  Gotterston,  the  Glen  of  Ogilvy,  and  other  lands  which  lie  had 
inherited  from  his  great-grandfather,  those  he  had  purchased,  and  those  he 
obtained  from  King  James  VII.  along  with  the  Constabulary  of  Dundee. 

On  29th  March,  1694,  King  William  III.  bestowed  the  greater  part  of  these 
lands  upon  the  Marquis  of  Douglas,  and  many  of  them  are  stiil  included  among 
the  Douglas  estates  in  the  county.  In  this  parish  there  are  Balunie  and 
Douglas  Bleachfield,  the  lands  of  Claypots,  Gotterston,  and  Milton  of  Craigie, 
and  many  plots  of  ground  which  have  been  feued,  the  annual  feu-duty  on 
which  is  about  £1000. 


Chap.  XXXIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— DUNDEE.  155 

The  ancient  family  of  Lovell  of  Ballumbie  appear  to  have  possessed  some 
lands  in  West  Ferry  and  salmon  fishings.  The  family  declined  in  the  latter 
half  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  lands  subsequently  passed  through  various 
hands,  among  whom  were  the  Maules  of  Panmure. 

The  last  of  the  Lovells,  as  proprietors  of  land  in  the  district,  of  whom  we 
have  any  account,  are  two  ladies,  which  may  be  considered  as  showing  that 
the  family  failed  in  females.  On  18th  July,  1607,  Sybil  and  Mary  Lovell, 
heirs-portioners  of  James  Lovell,  their  brother,  were  retoured  (Nos,  56  and 
57)  in  the  lands  of  West  Ferry,  witii  the  salmon  fishings  of  Ferrydaris,  called 
the  Uast  Cruik  of  Kilcragie  (winding  of  Tay  cast  of  Kilcraig),  on  the  north 
side  of  the  water  of  Tay.  In  the  Valuation  Eoll  of  1683  there  is  a  property 
entered  as  Ballumbie.  In  the  1822  Roll  it  is  called  West  Ferry,  Hon.  William 
Maule,  proprietor,  the  valued  rent  of  both  being  £100. 

It  is  probable  that  the  purchasers  of  Ballumbie  had  acquired  these  lands 
and  fishings  ;  that  they  had  come  to  the  Maules  with  the  estate,  been  retained 
by  the  family,  and  that  they  are  the  lands  at  the  West  Ferry  doors  and  the 
narrow  wedge-like  stripe  to  the  north  of  these,  which  belong  to,  and  have  been 
feued  by  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  and  that  the  "  Uast  Cruik  of  Kilcragie  salmon 
fishings"  are  the  fishings  at  the  West  Ferry  which  still  belong  to  the  Earl  of 
Dalhousie.     The  stripe  runs  into  the  Douglas  lands. 

The  earliest  notice  of  Pitkerro  which  we  have  seen  is  in  Eobertson's  Index 
to  Charters  (26-19),  and  Douglas  (I.,  p.  664),  being  a  grant  by  King  Bobert 
I.  to  Andrew  Gray,  ancestor  of  the  Lords  Gray,  of  the  barony  of  Longforgan, 
third  part  of  the  Milton  of  Craigie,  third  part  of  Pettarache  (Pitkerro),  and 
the  mill  of  Pitkerro,  the  charter  dated  at  Arbroath  12th  February,  1314-15. 
The  next  is  a  charter  by  King  David  II.  (In.  to  Ch.,  50-16)  of  the  lauds  of 
Pitkery,  given  by  ilargaret  Mowbray  to  William  Wishait.  Another  charter 
was  given  by  the  same  King  (Douglas  L,  p.  135)  of  a  third  part  of  the  Crown 
revenues  out  of  the  burgh  of  Dundee,  and  a  third  part  of  Pitkerro,  to  Sir  Neil 
Campbell,  and  Mary,  his  spouse,  sister  to  the  King,  which  pertained  to  John 
Campbell,  Earl  of  Athole — circa  1330-50.  The  King  granted  another 
charter  (In.  to  Ch.,  62-29),  dated  at  Stirling,  23d  March,  1359-60,  of  a  third 
part  of  the  customs  of  Dundee,  and  a  third  part  of  Pitkerro  blench,  which 
some  time  belonged  to  John  Campbell,  Earl  of  Athole,  to  liobert.  Lord 
Erskine.  Crawford  (p.  299)  says  King  Robert  II.  (who  succeeded  King  David 
IL,  22d  February,  1370-1)  gave  Sir  Robert  Erskine  a  third  part  of  the  customs 


156  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

out  of  the  burgh  of  Dundee,  and  a  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Pitkerro,  then  in 
the  Crown  by  the  demise  of  John  Campbell,  Earl  of  Athole.  Douglas  (II., 
p.  208)  says  Sir  Thomas  had  a  charter  of  a  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Pitkerro 
in,  or  shortly  after,  1371,  and  a  third  part  of  the  customs  of  Dundee. 

The  charters  mentioned  above  from  the  In.  to  Ch.,  62-29,  and  from  Craw- 
ford and  Douglas,  appear  to  be  one  and  the  same  charter,  and  we  think  the 
charter  in  the  Index  should  have  been  under  the  reign  of  King  Eobert  11. 
instead  of  David  II.  John  Campbell,  son  of  Sir  Neil  Campbell  of  Lochawe, 
got  the  estate  and  title  of  Earl  of  Athole  from  King  David  II.  His  mother 
was  Lady  Mary  Bruce,  sister  of  Eobert  the  Bruce.  He  died  shortly  before 
1375,  without  issue,  when  Kobert  11:  conferred  the  title  upon  Walter  Stewart, 
his  second  son. 

The  Lords  Oliphant  appear  to  have  had  an  interest  in  Pitkerro  in  the 
sixteenth  century.  Laurence,  fourth  Lord  Oliphant,  who  was  served  heir  to 
his  father  in  1.566,  and  was  a  partizan  of  Queen  Mary,  had  a  son,  Laurence, 
Master  of  Oliphant,  who  married  Lady  Christian  Douglas,  daughter  of  William, 
second  Earl  of  Morton.  He  took  part  in  the  Ruthven  conspiracy  in  1582, 
fled  with  some  others  to  the  Continent,  and  was  drowned  on  the  voyage.  By 
the  marriage  contract,  dated  7th  April,  1576,  and  in  fulfilment  thereof,  she 
had  charter  of  the  lauds  of  Gallery,  Pitkerro,  and  others,  dated  12th  April, 
1576.  By  her  he  had  a  son,  who  succeeded  his  grandfather.  The  Oliphants 
must  therefore  have  owned  a  part  of  Pitkerro  prior  to  that  date. 

The  lands  of  Pitkerro  were  formerly  of  much  greater  extent  than  they  now 
are.  A  part  of  them  had  been  acquired  by  the  Scrymgeours,  Constables  of 
Dundee.  Alexander  Scrymgeour  granted  a  charter  of  one  acre  of  the  Mill 
Crofts  of  Pitkerro  to  the  community  of  Dundee  towards  the  middle  of  the 
fourteenth  century.  They  thus  appear  to  have  been  proprietors  of  Pitkerro  at 
the  time  the  grant  was  made,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  with  any 
degree  of  certainty  the  proprietary  history  of  Pitkerro  in  its  transmissionfromthe 
Erskines  to  the  Durhams.  It  may,  and  probably  was  acquired  from  the  Erskines 
by  the  Scrymgeours,  who  in  the  fifteenth,  sixteenth,  and  seventeenth  centuries 
possessed  much  of  the  land  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dundee,  but  we  cannot  say 
when  they  purchased  the  estate,  nor  when  they  sold  it.  ^Ve  think  it  likely 
they  may  have  sold  the  lands  to  the  Oliphants  in  the  sixteenth  century.  They 
also  owned  several  estates  in  Angus  about  that  period,  and  also  large  properties 
in  Perthshire.  Pitkerro  may,  however,  have  passed  through  intermediate  hands. 

The  Durhams  purchased  Pitkerro  in  the  sixteenth  century.      They  appear 


Chap.  XXXIII.]      ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— DUNDEE.  157 

to  have  acquired  the  lands  at  two  or  more  times.  The  first  Durham  of 
Pitkerro  owned  part  of  the  estate  prior  to  1534,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  following 
account  of  the  family.  The  Oliphants  were  in  possession  of  part  of  the  lands 
at  that  date,  and  for  quite  half  a  century  later,  about  which  time  that  family 
had  probably  sold  their  section  of  it  to  the  Durhams,  as  heavy  misfortunes 
befell  them  about  that  period. 

I.  John  Durham,  second  son  of  Alexander  Durham,  sixth  baron  of  Grange 
of  Monifieth,  by  Janet,  daughter  of  John  Erskine  of  Dun,  was  progenitor  of 
the  Durhams  of  Pitkerro.  He  was  bred  a  merchant  in  Dundee,  was  successftd, 
and  purchased  the  lands  of  Pitkerro,  Omachie,  &c.  lie  married  Isabel, 
daughter  of  Kyd  of  Craigie,  and  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal 
from  James  V.  to  John  Durham,  merchant  burgess  of  Dundee,  and  Isabel 
Kyd,  his  spouse,  of  the  lands  of  Pitkerro,  &c.,  dated  I9th  October,  1534,  and 
he  and  his  posterity  for  several  generations  afterwards  were  designed  of  Pit- 
kerro. By  his  wife  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daugliters — James,  his  heir ; 
John,  died  without  issue ;  Alexander,  to  whom  he  gave  the  estate  of  Omachie, 
&:c.  ;  Francis,  who  acquired  lands  in  Banffshire  ;  Isabel,  married  to 
Auchterlony  of  Kellic ;  and  Margaret,  to  Dempster,  merchant  in 
Dundee.  He  died  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son, 

II.  James,  who  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  to  James  Durham  of 
Pitkerro,  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Powrie,  barony  of  Ogilvy,  &c.,  dated  12th 
November,  1593. 

The  old  road  between  Dundee  and  Arbroath  passed  through  the  policies  of 
Pitkerro,  and  James  Durham,  the  proprietor,  alleged  that  he  suffered  great 
injury  in  the  destruction  of  his  policies  by  the  King's  highway  passing  through 
them.  He  complained  of  this,  and  in  order  to  prevent  further  injury  to  his 
parks,  and  for  his  better  accommodation,  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  passed  in 
1607,  authorising  him  to  alter  and  turn  the  road  between  these  two  towns. 
The  road  was  not  then  altered  to  where  it  now  is,  the  present  road  between 
Dundee  and  Arbroath  having  only  been  formed  in  the  last  decade  of  the 
seventeenth  century. 

James  Durham,  portioner  of  Pitkerro,  granted  to  the  Provost  and  Bailies, 
&c.,  of  Dundee,  a  piece  of  land  on  the  lands  of  Pitkerro,  selected  and  marked 
cut,  for  the  reparation  and  construction  of  a  new  corn  mill  for  the  common 
benefit  of  the  burgh.  The  date  is  not  filled  up,  but  the  sasine  in  favour  of 
the  town  on  the  charter  is  dated  8th  May,  1589.     (Dundee  Charters,  p.  101.) 


158  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Mills  had  been  erected  on  this  ground,  as,  by  a  minute  of  sale,  dated  15th 
September  and  17th  October,  1621,  the  town  sold  to  James  Durham,  liar  of 
Pitkerro,  the  grandson  of  that  James  from  whom  they  had  acquired  it,  the  two 
corn  mills  of  Pitkerro,  with  the  house,  &c. 

He  married  Janet,  daughter  of  tSir  James  Wishart  of  Pittarrow,  by  whom 
he  had  several  sons  and  daughters.  He  died  in  the  reigu  of  James  VI.,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

III.  Alexander  Durham  of  Pitkerro.  He  got  a  charter  under  the  Great 
Seal  to  Alexander  Durham,  son  and  heir  of  James  Durham  of  Pitkerro,  of  the 
lands  of  Hatton  of  Kinnell,  dated  14th  December,  1620.  He  married  Jean, 
daughter  of  David  Kamsay  of  Balmain,  by  whom  he  had  several  children. 

IV.  James  Durham,  his  eldest  son,  afterwards  Sir  James,  was  put  in  fee  in 
his  father's  lifetime  of  the  barony  of  Pitkerro,  upon  whose  resignation  he  got  a 
charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Kinnell,  dated  7th 
June,  1621.  He  was  thereafter  sometimes  designed  of  Kinnell  and  sometimes 
of  Pitkerro,  In  a  charter  of  the  hands  of  Easter  and  Wester  Balfour  in  the 
Mearus,  dated  10th  June,  1630,  he  is  called  James  Durham  of  Kinnell.  In  a 
charter  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Easter  Powrie,  the  barony  of  Ogilvy,  &c., 
he  is  styled  James  Durham,  apparent  of  Pitkerro.  He  was  knighted  by 
Charles  I.,  and  married  Janet,  daughter  of  his  cousin,  James  Durham  of  Dun- 
tarvie,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters — James,  his  heir  ; 
William,  who  acquired  lands  in  Linlithgowshire  ;  John  and  Robert  went 
abroad  and  entered  the  service  of  Gustavus  Adolphus.  Their  future  history 
is  unknown.  One  daughter  was  married  to  Drummond  of  Megginch,  and 
the  other  to  Hay  of  Seggieden.  Sir  James  died  in  1633,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son, 

V.  Sir  James  Durham  of  Pitkerro.  He  was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  added 
considerably  to  his  paternal  estate.  He  obtained  a  new  charter  of  the  lands 
and  barony  of  Kinnell,  1st  March,  1634  ;  a  charter  of  Greenlaw,  in  Kirkcud- 
brightshire, 21st  December,  1633  ;  and  another  of  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Luffness,  24th  June,  1646,  after  which  he  was  designed  of  Pitkerro  and  Lnff- 
ness.  He  was  a  staunch  loyalist,  and  had  several  public  appointments  from 
Charles  I.,  such  as  Clerk  of  Exchequer,  of  which  he  was  deprived  attcr  the 
death  of  the  King,  and  was  put  to  much  trouble  by  the  Commonwealth.  He 
lived  to  see  the  Restoration,  was  knighted  by  Charles  II.,  and  restored  to  the 
offices  he  had  previously  held.  He  got  a  new  charter  imder  the  Great  Seal, 
to  Lord  James  Durham  of  Pitkerro,  knight,  of  the  lauds  and  barony  of  Luff- 


Chap.  XXXIIL]     ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— DUNDEE.  159 

ness,  &c.,  dated  8th  July,  16G1.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Hepburn  of 
Humbie,  by  whom  he  had  James,  his  heir  ;  Adam,  to  whom  he  gave  the  hinds 
of  Luflfness  ;  Alexander,  afterwards  Sir  Alexander,  who  was  knighted  by 
Charles  II.,  and  appointed  Lord  Lyon,  king-at-arms,  the  commission  being 
dated  28th  August,  1660.  He  subsequently  got  other  appointments  from 
the  King,  and  was  colonel  of  a  regiment.  He  acquired  the  lands  and  barony 
of  Largo,  in  Fife,  and  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  dated  1st  January, 
1663.  He  was  never  married,  and  left  his  estate  of  Largo  to  his  nephew, 
Francis,  son  of  his  brother  James  ;  Adolphus  or  Adam  was  a  lawyer,  but 
never  married  ;  Grisel,  Sir  James'  only  daughter,  was  married  to  John,  Earl  of 
Middleton,-and  was  the  mother  of  Charles,  second  Earl ;  Lady  Helen,  Countess 
of  Strathmore  ;  and  Lady  Grisel,  Countess  of  Morton.  He  died  in  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.,  and  was  succeeded"  by  his  eldest  son, 

VI.  James  Durham  of  Pitkerrow,  was  captain  in  his  brother's  regiment,  but 
afterwards  cast  off  the  military  garb,  assumed  the  clerical  habit,  and  became 
an  eminent  divine.  He  was  one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  one  of  the 
King's  chaplains,  attended  him  to  the  Battle  of  Dunbar,  and  afterwards 
minister  of  the  High  Church  of  Glasgow,  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Sir  l^Iure  of  Glenderston,  and  relict  of  his  colleague,  Zachary  Boyd,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons,  Francis,  his  heir,  and  James,  Avho  carried  on  the  line 
of  the  family.     He  died  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father. 

VII.  Francis  Durham  succeeded  to  Pitkerro,  &c.,  on  the  death  of  his  father, 
and  upon  the  death  of  his  uncle.  Sir  Alexander,  he  succeeded  to  his  property, 
and  was  the  second  Durham  baron  of  Largo.  He  married  Jean,  daughter  of 
Sir  James  Scott  of  Ardross,  Ijut,  dying  without  issue,  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother, 

VIII.  James  Durham,  third  baron  of  Largo,  second  son  of  the  last  James 
Durham  of  Pitkerro,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Kutherford 
of  Hunthill,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters. 

On  21th  December,  1689,  James  Durham  of  Luffness,  in  Haddingtonshire, 
was  retoured  in  two  third  parts  of  the  lands  and  mill  of  Pitkerro,  as  heir  to 
James  Durham  of  Luffness,  his  father ;  and  in  one  third  part  of  said  lands 
as  heir  of  Master  James  Durham  of  Pitkerro,  his  grandfather.  James  Durham 
of  Luffness  and  Largo  appears  to  have  disposed  of  Pitkerro  shortly  after  he  was 
served  lieir  to  his  father  and  grandfather  in  Fitkerro. 

James  Durham  was  succeeded  in  Largo  by  his  eldest  son,  James,  who  in 
turn  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  also  James.      As  the  Durhams  of  Largo 


160  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

ceased  to  have  connection  with  Angus  after  Captain,  then  the  Reverend  James, 
or  his  brother  Francis,  sold  Pitkerro,  the  genealogical  account  of  this  branch 
of  the  family  need  not  be  continued  further. 

A  full  account  of  the  Durhams  of  Grange,  the  chiefs  of  the  family,  will  be 
given  with  the  land  history  of  the  Grange,  in  the  chapter  on  Monifieth. 

It  is  uncertain  when  Pitkerro  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Durhams,  but 
it  had  probably  been  shortly  before  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It 
was  the  property  of  George  Mackenzie,  "  Clerk  to  the  Exchequer,"  in  the  early 
part  of  the  last  century.  His  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  Patrick 
Durham  of  Omachie,  and  died  in  June,  1760,  aged  87  years. 

The  ancestor  of  Douglas  Drummond  Dick,  the  present  laird  of  Pitkerro, 
acquired  the  property  from  Mr  M'Kenzie  or  his  representatives,  but  the  date 
of  his  acquisition  of  the  estate  has  not  been  ascertained.  It  had  probably  been 
about  the  end  of  last  century.  Mungo  Dick  of  Pitkerro  is  among  the  free- 
holders of  Angus  in  the  list  for  1821. 

William  Douglas  Dick  of  Pitkerro,  the  son  of  Mungo  Dick,  married  Jane 
Hay,  daughter  of  the  late  Sir  Francis  W.  Drummond,  Baronet,  of  Hawthorn- 
den,  Midlothian,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  the  present  laird,  born  in  1843.  The 
late  preprietor,  who  died  in  1872,  was  a  Magistrate  in  the  County  of  Forfar. 
The  present  proprietor,  Douglas  D.  Dick  of  Pitkerro,  was  ensign  in  the  29th 
Foot.  He  generally  lets  Pitkerro  Castle  and  grounds,  and  resides  elsewhere. 
He  is  at  present,  or  was  recently,  residing  at  Montrave,  Kennoway,  Fife. 

The  present  mansion  house  or  Castle  of  Pitkerro  was  built  by  one  of  the 
Durhams,  probably  in  the  first  or  second  decade  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
The  large  trees  by  which  the  house  is  surrounded  appear  to  be  about  the  same 
age  as  the  house.  It  is  an  old  square  building,  having  two  corbelled 
turrets,  one  on  the  north  and  the  other  on  the  south  angles  facing 
the  west,  and  there  is  a  round  tower  in  the  centre  of  the  building  facing  the 
south,  over  which  the  building  is  carried  up  several  feet  on  the  square,  with 
crow-stepped  roof,  which  give  it  a  castellated  appearance.  The  entrance  is  on 
the  east  or  back  of  the  house,  and  near  to  it  a  projecting  addition  has  been 
added  to  the  house,  having  a  kitchen  below  and  drawingroom  above,  but  this 
wing  does  not  improve  the  outward  appearance  of  the  mansion. 

The  house  stands  in  a  beautiful  park,  in  which  are  many  large  trees  of 
various  sorts.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  house  there  is  a  very  large  Spanish 
chestnut,  near  to  which  is  a  large  walnut,  evergreen  oak,  and  a  superabundance 
of  large  shrubs.      Two  beautiful  chestnut  trees,  the  branches  of  which  sweep 


Ohap.  XXXIV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LETHNOT  &  NAVAR.         161 

the  ground,  stand  to  the  east  of  the  house.  There  is  a  pretty  flower  garden  on  the 
south  and  west  sides  of  the  house,  and  the  Lammerton  or  Murroes  Burn  passes 
on  the  east.  Near  the  north  entrance  are  two  plane  trees  of  large  size  standing 
side  by  side,  though  a  few  feet  apart,  but,  curiously  united  immediately  above 
the  ground.  They  are  called  the  twin  sisters,  "  which  grew  in  beauty  side  by 
side,"  and  they  are  a  singular  but  pleasing  sight,  which  many  visit. 

In  1732  a  sample  of  coarse  linen,  bleached  with  kelp,  was  exhibited  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Board  of  Manufactures  by  the  Dean  of  Guild  of  Dundee.  The 
Trustees  approved  of  the  bleaching,  and  were  to  erect  bleachfields  at  Dundee 
and  Dunfermline,  but  Hichard  Holden,  who  had  bleached  the  sample,  erected 
and  fitted  up  a  bleachfield  at  Pitkerro  for  bleaching  linen  with  kelp.  The 
bleachfield  disappeared  long  ago.     (The  Linen  Trade,  p.  449.) 

Chap.  XXXIV.— LETHNOT  AND  NAVAR 

Lethnot  and  Navar  were  two  distinct  parishes  up  to  1723,  in  which  year 
they  were  united.  Lethnot  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  but  the  patron 
saint  of  Navar  is  not  known.  Both  churches  were  in  the  diocese  of  Brechin. 
In  the  Old  Taxation,  Netheuer  was  rated  at  viij  lib.,  and  Lethenoth  at  xx  lib. 
(Keg.  de  Aberb.,  p.  239  40.)  For  some  time  after  the  lleformation  the  two 
parishes  were  served  by  one  minister,  who  drew  part  of  his  stipend  from  each. 
In  1567  the  minister  who  had  the  spiritual  superintendence  of  both  parishes 
had  only  a  stipend  of  about  ^26  Scots  in  all  from  both.  Each  had  then  its 
own  reader  or  schoolmaster.  In  1574,  Edzell,  Dunloppie,  Lethnett,  Lochley, 
and  Navar  were  served  by  Maister  James  Fowlertoun,  minister,  persone  and 
vicare  (he  sustenand  his  reidare),  stipend  £120  Scots  and  kirk  lands.  Thomas 
Eamsay,  reidare  at  Edzell,  £20;  Johnne  Sym,  reidare  at  Dunloppie,  £20 
and  kirk  lands  ;  Maister  1  liomas  Fowlar,  reidare  at  Lethnett,  £16  ;  William 
Hay,  reidare  at  Lochley,  £16  ;  Archibald  Erskin,  reidare  at  Navari,  £16  and 
kirk  lands.     (Wod.  Soc.  Mis.,  p.  350.) 

The  two  churches  of  Lethnot  and  Navar  were  within  a  mile  of  each  other, 
but  separated  by  the  Westwater. 

When  the  parishes  of  Navar  and  Lethnot  were  united,  the  minister  of  Navar 
made  it  an  indispensable  condition  of  his  becoming  minister  of  the  united 
parishes  that  a  bridge  should  be  erected  to  connect  Navar  with  Lethnot,  and 
to  satisfy  him,  and  enable  him  to  visit  his  parishioners  in  both  districts  of  the 
united  parish,  the  building   of  Pikehardy  or  Westwater  Bridge  was   com- 


1G2  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

menced  and  completed.     It  is  of  great  service  to  the  inliabitants  of  the  entire 
district. 

The  Church  of  Lethnot  was,  in  1384,  erected  into  aprebendof  the  Cathedral 
of  Brechin,  by  Sir  David  Liadsay  of  Glenesk,  afterwards  Earl  of  Crawford. 
The  Kirk  of  Navar  was  a  parsonage  of  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin,  and  it  is 
supposed  to  have  been  granted  to  Brechin  by  one  of  its  ancient  lords,  who  took 
one  of  their  titles  from  the  district.  Lord  Panmure  of  Brechin  and  Navar  was 
the  title  taken  by  the  Hon.  William  Ramsay  Maule  when  he  was  created  a 
Peer,  on  9th  September,  1831,  and  the  late  Fox  Maule  succeeded  to  it,  but 
this  title  is  now  extinct. 

The  districts  of  Lethnot  and  Lochlee  were  in  more  modern  times  served  by  one 
minister,  who  preached  twice  at  Lethnot  for  once  at  Lochlee.  AVhen  Lethnot 
and  Navar  were  united  in  1723,  Lochlee  parish  was  erected  into  a  separate 
charge.  The  road  the  clergyman  took  in  going  between  his  two  churches  was 
by  the  east  side  of  the  Westwater,  past  Finnoch  and  Achourie,  and  Clash  of 
Wirran.  It  is  still  known  as  the  priest's  road.  It  is  hilly  and  now  lonely, 
but  very  direct.  In  former  times  it  was  the  great  road  from  Banffshire  and 
the  western  part  of  Aberdeenshire  to  Brechin  and  the  low  country,  and  was 
kept  in  fair  order.  It  was  much  frequented  by  smugglers,  Highland  shearers, 
and  others  up  to  the  end  of  the  first  decade  of  this  century.  By  this  road 
Brechin  and  Ballater  are  within  thirty  miles  of  each  other. 

The  road  from  Lethnot  to  Lochlee  was  entirely  changed  upwards  of  a  cen- 
tury ago  (in  177  ),  when  a  bridge  was  erected  at  Stoneyford.  It  is  now  on 
the  Navar  or  west  side  of  the  water.  That  bridge  was  put  up  in  consequence 
of  two  lads  losing  their  lives  when  attempting  to  cross  the  stream  in  a  flood. 
They  were  brothers,  sons  of  John  Leitch,  farmer,  Bonningfon,  aged  23,  and  21 
years.  Both  were  mounted  on  one  horse  with  the  intention  of  crossing  the 
river,  and,  mistaking  the  ford,  were  drowned,  on  7th  October,  1753. 

The  Church  of  Navar  was  taken  down  shortly  after  the  union  of  the  parish 
with  Lethnot.  It  stood  within  the  graveyard,  which  is  still  a  good  deal  used, 
and  a  neat  and  substantial  wall  has  recently  been  erected  around  it.  The  site 
of  the  church  may  still  be  traced.  A  few  large  trees  grow  around  the  lone 
enclosure. 

When  the  church  was  demolished  the  bell  disappeared  (See  Vol.  II.,  p.  367), 
bat  it  was  subsequently  discovered,  and  is  now  in  the  Museum  at  Arbroath, 
with  a  description  by  the  Rev.  Mr  Cruickshank,  the  respected  minister  of 
Lethnot  and  Navar,  hanging  round  its  neck.      The  date,  1G55,  is  on  it.     The 


Chap.  XXXI Y.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LETHNOT  &  NAVAR.        163 

site  on  which  tlie  Church  of  Navar  stood  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Paphry, 
but  at  some  distance  above  that  stream. 

The  Church  of  Lethnot  was  rebuilt  in  1827,  the  foundation  stone  having 
been  laid  with  masonic  honours  on  5th  July  of  that  year.  Notwithstanding 
having  been  thus  distinguished,  it  is  a  plain  building,  without  architectural 
pretentions.  A  small  but  neat  belfrey  is  on  the  west  end  of  the  church.  A 
stone  immediately  below  the  belfrey  bears  "  1672  N."  Norrie  was  the  incum- 
bent. Another  stone  beside  it  bears  "17  J.R.,  42."  John  Row  was  minister 
during  a  time  of  trouble  and  danger,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office 
zealously  and  fliithfully.  He  died  in  1747,  the  year  after  Culloden,  where  some 
of  his  parishioners  fought  and  fell.  He  was  buried  within  the  church.  The  neat 
whitewashed  manse  stands  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  church  and  graveyard, 
and  trees  of  good  size  surround  both.  They  are  on  the  left  bank  of  the  West- 
water,  near  the  confluence  of  the  Paphry,  but  well  up  the  hill  side.  The 
manse  commands  good  views  up  and  down  the  glen,  and  in  front,  of  the  ancient 
fortresses  of  the  Brown,  and  the  Grey  or  White  Caterthuns.  The  scenery  is 
pleasant  in  summer,  but  it  must  be  cold  and  bleak  in  winter. 

The  Rev.  Mr  Thomson,  the  last  Episcopal  minister  of  Lethnot  and  Lochlee, 
was  deposed  in  171 G,  after  a  fair  trial  by  the  Presbytery  of  Brechin,  for  having 
engaged  in  traitorous  practices  against  the  Established  government  in  Church 
and  State.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  Episcopal  incumbency  of  the  united 
parishes  by  the  Rev.  David  Rose  (the  great-grandfather  of  the  present  Lord 
Strathnairn),  who,  with  his  wife,  is  buried  within  the  Kirk  of  Lethnot.  An 
Episcopal  Chapel  was  built  for  Mr  Rose  shortly  after  the  previous  incumbent 
was  deposed,  on  a  site  about  500  yards  from  the  Kirk  of  Lethnot.  It  was  a 
small  plain  thatched  building,  and  it  was  burned  down  by  a  party  of  the  Duke 
of  Cumberland's  troops  after  Culloden. 

In  an  old  MS.  we  have  seen  is  the  following : — "  David  Rose,  Episcopal 
clergyman,  served  the  cures  of  Lethnot  and  Lochlee.  Died  in  the  year  1758, 
aged  63,  and  lies  buried  in  the  Kirk  of  Lethnot.  His  spouse,  Margaret  Rose, 
died  in  the  year  1785,  aged  80,  and  was  buried  beside  her  husband.  The  Rev. 
David  Rose  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  had  four  children,  all  o{ 
whom  died  at  an  early  age.  By  the  second  he  had  five  children,  of  whom  two 
only  survive — the  Honourable  George  Rose,  and  a  daughter,  Margaret,  by 
whom  this  marble  is  erected." 

This  is  evidently  an  inscription  for  a  monument  which  had  been  proposed  to 
be  erected  within  the  church.       If  ever  it  was  put  up  it  must  have  been 


164  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

destroyed  when  the  cburcli  was  repaired.  The  present  minister,  about  ten 
years  ago,  sent  a  copy  of  the  inscription  to  Lord  Strathiiairn,  who  was  glad  to 
receive  it,  and  he  promised,  along  witli  his  brother,  Sir  William  Rose,  to  put 
up  a  mural  tablet  in  the  Kirk  of  Lethnot,  but  it  lias  not  yet  been  done. 

The  Rev.  Mr  Cruickshank,  the  minister,  has  no  doubt  that  the  Kirk  of 
Lethnot  occupies  a  site  which  has  been  a  place  of  worship  from  the  earliest 
appearance  of  Christianity  in  the  country,  if  not  in  old  Druidicul  times.  When 
the  foundation  of  the  present  manse  was  being  dug  in  1810,  an  immense 
quantity  of  some  fatty  material  was  discovered,  which  was  believed  at  the  time 
to  be  the  remains  of  sacrifices.  His  Reverence  believes  in  the  fat,  but  hardly 
in  the  inference  drawn  from  it. 

The  etymology  of  LetJienoih,  the  spelling  in  the  ancient  Taxatio,  and 
Lethnot,  is  doubtful.  It  may  be  the  confluence  of  swift  running  streams, 
which  is  applicable.  Netheuer,  in  the  Taxatio,  Navar,  Gaelic,  means  '"whirl- 
ing streams."  This  name  is  characteristic  of  those  which  run  through  the 
district. 

John  de  Inverpeffer  was  the  first  prebendary  of  Lethnot,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  de  Angus.  Persons  of  each  of  these  names  did  fealty  to  King 
Edward  in  1296.  Inverpeffer  was  a  common  family  name  in  Angus  in  early 
times.  Walkelyn,  brewer  to  King  William  I.,  received  from  that  monarch, 
about  1200,  a  grant  of  the  lands  of  Inveipeffer,  in  the  parish  of  St  Vigeans, 
from  which  he  assumed  his  surname.  There  were  few  proprietors  in  the 
County  of  Forfar  of  the  name  of  Angus.  William  Wright  succeeded  Angus 
as  prebendary  of  Lethnot,  and  on  his  death,  in  1410,  Andrew  Ogiivy,  Clerk 
of  the  diocese  of  Dunkeld,  son  of  Sir  Alexander  Ogiivy,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  was 
presented  to  the  office,  "  by  his  beloved  cousin,"  Alexander,  second  Earl  of 
Crawford. 

Mortifications,  for  the  period  of  considerable  extent,  were  made  out  of  some 
of  the  lands  in  the  parish  to  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin,  and  to  the  Monastery 
of  the  Grey  friars  in  Dundee,  by  David,  first  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  his  Countess, 
Marjory ;  and  by  David,  fifth  Earl  of  Crawford  and  Duke  of  Montrose,  for  a 
daily  mass  to  be  said,  and  a  requiem  sung  at  the  altar  of  Our  Lady,  by 
the  ^\hole  convent  for  th.e  safety  of  the  soul  of  the  donor,  and  those  of  his  pro- 
genitors and  successors  ;  also  for  his  benefactor,  the  unfortunate  James  III. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  century,  during  the  incumbency  of  Mr  Symers, 
several  pieces  of  silver  coin  were  found  in  cleaning  out  a  fountain  near  the 
church,  which  is  stili  known  as  St   Mary's  Well.       These  had  been  votive 


Chap.  XXXIV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LETHNOT  &  NAVAR.         165 

offerings,  cast  in  by  devout  worshippers  before  the  Eeformation,  which  had 
lain  there  for  several  centuries. 

The  baptismal  font  in  use  in  Romish  times  (out  of  which  water  may  have 
been  used  at  the  baptism  of  the  devotees  who  offered  their  silver,  dropping  it  into 
the  fountain  to  the  Virgin),  was  long  turned  from  the  holy  purpose  for  which 
it  was  formed,  and  made  to  do  duty  as  a  watering  trough  at  the  manse.  It  is 
a  plain  circular  stone  basin.  Jervise  says  (E.  and  I.  II.,  294) — "A  curious 
font,  of  possibly  the  fifteenth  century,  lies  in  Lethnot  Kirkyard."  The  Rev. 
Mr  Cruickshank — "  The  baptismal  font,  which  had  been  in  use  for  ordinary 
purposes  about  the  manse,  was  sold  along  with  Mr  Syraers'  effects  after  his 
death.  It  was  lost  sight  of  for  30  years,  but  was  discovered  and  claimed  by 
the  present  minister  (Mr  C).     It  now  lies  in  front  of  the  church.'' 

In  1880  a  silver  coin  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  fine  preservation,  was  found  on 
the  farm  of  Blairno,  near  the  Kirk  of  Navar. 

The  Druidical  circle  which  once  stood  at  Craigendowie  was  removed  more 
than  fifty  years  ago,  and  no  trace  of  it  now  remains.  There  is  a  small  circle 
still  to  be  seen  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  about  a  mile  west  of  the  farm  of  Braco. 
It  is  of  small  zone,  and  the  stones  are  a  good  way  sunk  into  the  ground. 
There  are  many  cairns  near  by.  There  is  another  Druidical  circle  at  the  Clash  of 
Blairno  upon  the  elevated  piece  of  ground  close  beside  the  public  road  on  the 
left  hand  as  you  descend  to  the  Westwater  Bridge,  or  Bridge  of  Pikehardy.  It 
has  been  a  good  deal  meddled  with,  but  is  still  quite  distinct. 

Of  the  circle  said  to  have  consisted  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  stones,  which 
once  stood  at  Kewbigging,  only  one  remains — the  stannin'  stane  of  Newbigging. 
Many  flint  arrowheads  have  been  found  in  some  districts  of  the  parish. 

The  parish  ministers  and  tenants  of  Lethnot,  Lochlee,  and  Edzell  possess  a 
curious  and  valuable  privilege.  By  a  Decreet  Arbitral  recorded  in  the  Pro- 
bative Writs  of  Brechin,  17th  October,  1843,  the  burn  of  Duskandry,  the 
largest  tributary  of  the  Water  of  Saughs,  is  the  march  for  the  glen  pasture  of 
the  Water  of  Sauchs.  From  this  point  westward  along  the  whole  course  of 
that  stream,  the  parties  above  mentioned  had  a  common  right  to  pasture 
a  certain  number  of  black  cattle.  The  right  could  only  be  claimed  now  by  the 
three  ministers,  since  all  the  liferent  tenancies  have  died  out. 

The  united  parish  of  Lethnot  and  Navar  is  in  the  Braes  of  Angus.  It  is 
bounded  by  Menmuir  on  the  south  ;  by  Menmuir,  Fern,  Tannadice,  and  Clova 
on  the  west ;  by  Lochlee  on  the  north  ;  and  by  Edzell  on  the  east.  From 
south-east  to  north-west  it  is  about  fifteen  miles  in  length,  and  about  five 


166  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

miles  in  average  breadth.     It  contains  26,326'607  acres,  of  which  36*796  are 
water. 

The  mountainous  parts  of  the  parish  consist  of  the  primary  formation  of 
rock.  Clayslate,  and  mica-schist  overlay  beds  of  gneiss  of  unknown  thickness. 
The  parish  is  traversed  from  east  to  west  by  a  vein  of  blue  slate,  something 
akin  to  the  Dunkeld  slate,  which  is  a  continuation  of  the  same  vein.  It  was 
for  some  time  attempted  to  be  wrought,  but  for  want  of  capital  the  enterprise 
was  discontinued  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  The  slates  were  brittle 
and  ill  coloured,  but  had  the  work  been  persevered  in,  a  better  quality  of  slates 
would,  it  is  believed,  have  been  got.  The  appearance  of  earlier  workings  are 
discernible.     The  vein  is  very  narrow. 

Some  patches  of  limestone  exist  in  the  parish,  but  it  is  of  no  practical  value. 
Red  sandstone  is  seen  on  the  south  side  of  the  Westwater,  where  it  separates 
the  parish  from  Menmuir,  but  none  exist  in  Lethnot  except  in  two  or  three 
places  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

The  parish  is  nearly  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  lofty  mountains,  which  rise 
from  a  central  valley  through  which  the  Water  of  Saughs  runs  from  nearly 
the  western  extremity  of  the  parish,  dividing  it,  as  it  were,  into  two  parts, 
until  it  receives  the  Paphry  Burn,  when  the  stream  takes  the  name  of  the 
Westwater.  In  its  course  it  receives  the  streams  from  the  water  shed  lines  on 
both  sides,  but  none  of  them  are  of  great  size,  their  course  being  short.  The 
Westwater  is  the  boundary  between  the  parish  and  Menmuir.  The  land  on 
both  sides  of  the  Water  of  Saughs  is  wholly  pastural  or  wild. 

In  some  districts  there  are  strong  chalybeate  springs,  which  have  beeii  found 
beneficial  in  some  cases.  If  these  were  made  known,  and  the  roads  into  the 
parish  improved,  they  might  be  made  a  fashionable  resort,  and  prove  beneficial 
to  the  parishioners  as  well  as  to  the  invalid  visitors. 

There  is  little  cultivated  land  in  the  parish  excepting  along  the  banks  of  the 
Westwater  and  its  tributaries,  but  there  is  good  pasturage  for  cattle  in  the 
valleys,  and  for  sheep  in  the  higher  grounds,  and  considerable  herds  and  flocks 
are  raised  there.  On  the  banks  of  the  streams  and  in  the  valleys  there  are  in 
several  places  considerable  patches  of  natural  wood.  From  the  level  lands, 
chiefly  haughs,  near  the  streams,  the  ground  has  a  gradual  rise  to  the  north, 
and  much  of  the  cultivated  soil  has  therefore  a  southern  exposure.  The  highest 
summit  in  the  parish  is  the  Wirran  (2220),  Gaelic,  signifying  the  broad  or 
strong  based  mountain,  and  the  name  is  a  very  appropriate  one.  It  is  a  very 
striking  object  when  seen  from  the  high  grounds  behind  Dun  House,  or  from 


Chap.  XXXIV. J  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LETHNOT  &  NAVAR.         167 

the  high  land  about  the  Church  of  Logie  Pert.  A  short  distance  above  the 
Church  ofLethnot  there  is  an  immense  lofty  perpendicular  black  rock  close  by 
the  side  of  the  river,  which  here  is  a  dark  deep  pool.  In  the  days  of  old,  when, 
by  many,  Water  Kelpie  was  believed  to  be  a  veritable  personage,  he  could  not 
have  found  a  more  suitable  place  in  which  to  drown  his  victims,  and  he  may 
have  played  many  cantrips  there.  About  this  indefinite  time  the  people  in  the 
district  were  very  superstitious.  Witches  were  a  terror,  and  the  adder  stone, 
of  a  greyish  colour,  but  pure  as  marble,  having  a  hole  in  the  centre  large 
enough  to  admit  a  man's  arm,  through  which  the  white  adder  and  the  progeny 
sported  in  sunny  days,  was  thought  to  be  a  sure  preventive  of  witchcraft  to  the 
human  family,  and  to  cattle.  The  white  adder  itself  conferred  the  power  of 
second  sight  upon  any  person  who  could  catch  one.  The  broth  from  boiling 
a  white  adder  endowed  a  person  who  partook  of  it  with  the  same  magical 
power. 

The  parish  had  its  witch  who  performed  many  notable  acts,  some  beneficial, 
but  many  injurious  to  man  and  beast.  Satan  himself  is  said  to  have  appeared 
on  one  occasion,  but  no  description  of  the  appearance  of  the  arch-fiend  is  given, 
and  the  story  is  related  variously;  all  accounts,  however,  agree  that  the  presence 
of  the  minister  of  the  parish,  arrayed  in  his  gown  and  bands,  and  with  Bible  in 
hand,  was  necessary  before  he  could  be  expelled  from  the  dwelling  into  which  he 
had  entered.  The  presence  of  the  minister  in  his  canonicals  was  irresistible, 
and  the  arch  enemy  of  mankind  disappeared  in  a  volume  of  smoke  with  a  loud 
appalling  noise.  An  indentation  in  the  floor  of  the  farmhouse  into  which  he 
had  entered,  caused  by  the  fiend's  descent,  was  long  shown  in  proof  of  the 
reality  of  the  Satanic  visit.  It  is  said  that  it  was  the  Episcopal  minister  of 
Lethnot  who  thus  drove  off  the  Evil  One.  For  this  bold  act  his  Satanic 
Majesty  was  wroth  with  the  divine,  and  on  several  occasions  he  entered  the 
study  in  the  manse  and  prevented  him  from  preparing  his  sermon. 

Near  the  Newbigging  stone  are  the  remains  of  an  ancient  square  tower  called 
the  Castle  of  Dennyferne,  said  to  have  been  a  residence  of  the  Lindsays. 
Several  remains  of  dwellings  have  been  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Castle, 
supposed  to  have  been  the  residences  of  their  clansmen. 

In  the  Old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  it  is  mentioned  that  about  the 
time  of  the  last  Piebellion  the  price  of  an  ox  was  £2  10s  ;  an  old  ewe.  Is  Id  ; 
a  good  wedder,  3s  6d  to  4s  ;  mutton  and  beef,  Id  per  lb.  In  1790  prices  had 
risen  to  £()  10s  for  a  similar  ox;  a  ewe,  4s  6d  to  5s;  a  wedder,  lis;  and 
routton  and  beef,  4d  per  lb.       A  good  hen  had  risen  from  4d  to  lOd ;  butter 


168  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

from  4d  to  9d  per  lb. — equal  to  1|  lb.  imperial.  The  daily  wages  of  a  labourer 
had  risen  from  2d  and  his  meat,  to  6d  and  his  meat.  The  half-yearly  wages  of 
a  ploughman  had  risen  from  16s  8d  to  £3  or  £3  10s.  A  maid  servant's  wages 
for  the  summer  half  year  were  then  10s,  and  for  the  winter  half-year  5s  and 
bounties.  Tliey  had  risen  to  £1  5s  in  summer,  and  £1  in  winter,  with  a  week 
to  herself  each  half-year,  when  she  could  go  and  reside  with  her  parents,  and  a 
peck  of  oatmeal  each  of  the  two  weeks  for  her  support ;  together  with  the  same 
bounties  as  in  the  earlier  period.  Tiiese  were  an  ell  of  linen,  an  apron,  and  a 
shirt  (shift  or  chemise).  A  tailor's  daily  wages  had  advanced  from  2d  and  his 
meal,  to  6d  and  victuals.  A  household  weaver  charged  Id  per  ell ;  the  same 
description  of  clothes  had  risen  to  3d  per  ell.  Coarse  shoes  had  advanced 
from  Is  to  8s  per  pair. 

In  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  there  was  neither  a  spinning 
wheel  nor  a  reel  within  the  parish,  the  rock  and  the  spindle  being  then  used, 
by  which  a  woman  could  spin  at  an  average  SJ  heers  in  the  day.  By  the 
spinning  wheel  about  four  times  as  much  could  be  spun  with  the  same  ease  in 
a  day.  Prior  to  1750  neither  buckles  were  used  for  shoes  nor  metal  buttons 
for  clothes.  There  were  then  few  carts  within  the  united  parishes,  loads  being 
then  carried  on  horseback,  and  the  only  tea  kettle  within  the  parishes  be- 
longed to  the  minister.  About  1770  neither  barn  nor  mill  fanners  for  cleaning 
victual  were  in  the  parishes,  but  by  1790  each  of  the  three  meal  mills  in  the 
parishes  had  obtained  a  set,  and  few  farmers  were  without  them.  The  account 
adds—"  Formerly  the  people,  especially  such  as  were  wealthy,  lived  frequently 
in  fear  lest  their  houses  should  be  broken,  and  their  property  plundered ;  at 
present  they  live  so  secure  in  some  places,  that,  as  is  said,  they  are  seldom  at 
the  pains  to  bolt  the  door  at  night." 

The  rugged  and  hilly  roads  render  communication  with  the  Valley  of 
Strathmore  diffiouit,  and  the  distance  from  a  market  for  the  produce  of  the 
district,  which  requires  to  be  carted,  lessens  the  value  of  that  produce  sent  out 
of  it,  and  increases  the  cost  of  the  merchandise  carried  into  it.  The  nearest 
market  town  is  Brechin,  eight  miles  distant,  and  the  roads  lead  over  steep 
ground  between  the  two  Caters.  As  the  flocks  and  herds  reared  in  the  parish 
are  driven  southward,  theii  transport  is  easily  accomplished  ;  still  the  position 
of  the  parish  retards  progress,  and  the  parishioners  are  thus  placed  at  a  dis- 
advantage in  many  respects. 

The  dreadful  ravages  committed  by  the  soldiery  of  the  Marquis  of  Montrose 
in  his  repeated  visits  to  the  Braes  of  Angus  in  1645,  are  well  shown  by  the 


Chap.  XXXIV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- LETHNOT  &  NAVAR.         169 

following  memorial  from  proprietors  in  the  vicinity  of  Navar.  Tiie  spelling 
we  have  modernized. 

We  undersubscribers  testifies  to  the  Honourable  Estates  of  Parliament, 
their  Committees,  and  others  having  their  power,  That  the  parish  of  Navar, 
belonging  to  the  land  of  Panmure,  lying  within  the  Sheriffdom  of  Forfar,  is 
totally  wasted  by  the  cruelty  of  the  malicious  enemies  of  the  kirk  and  kingdom, 
whereby  to  our  certain  knowledge  he  has  been  frustrate  of  his  rent  these  two 
years  bygone.  In  regard  the  said  lands  are  in  a  great  part  unprofitable  and 
lying  waste.  And  such  as  are  laboured  are  unable  to  pay  any  rent.  The 
tenants  not  being  able  to  labour  above  to  serve  their  own  necessities.  And 
such  like  the  minister  of  the  said  parish  is  constrained  because  of  the  frequent 
incursions  of  the  broken  and  barbarous  Highlanders,  to  retire  himself  v/ith  his 
whole  family  to  the  town  of  Brechin,  they  having  before  his  removal  plundered 
his  house,  taken  away  and  destroyed  his  whole  corns,  and  victual,  and  books. 
This  we  testify  to  be  of  verity  by  these  presents  subscribed  with  our  hands  as 
follows,  at  Brechin,  the  tenth  day  of  January,  1646.  Signed  by  Mr  L. 
Skinner,  minister  at  Navar  ;  G.  Symer  of  Balzeordie  ;  J.  Guthrie  of  Pitforthie  ; 
John  Symer,  elder,  of  Brathie  ;  John  Symer,  feir  of  Brathinche  ;  David  Living- 
stone of  Dunlappie;  George  Straton  of  Athdouie. 

The  lands  of  Lethnot,  Edzell,  and  Glenesk  have  had  a  common  proprietor 
from  an  early  time,  aud  they  were  all  known  by  the  common  name  of  Glenesk. 
The  earliest  known  owners  assumed  Glenesk  as  a  surname.  The  period  wht^n 
they  received  these  great  territories  is  unknown,  but  John  de  Glenesck,  the 
first  of  the  name,  so  far  as  is  known  on  record,  is  a  witness  to  a  charter  to 
Walter  de  Rossy,  circa  1260,  the  original  being  among  the  St  Martin's  and 
Eossie  charters.  The  Glenesks  of  that  ilk  are  also  mentioned  in  1289  and  in 
1296,  as  has  already  been  stated  under  Edzell  parish.  An  account  of  the 
Abbes  of  Edzell,  and  the  Edzells  of  that  ilk,  who  were  contemporary  with 
the  Glenesks,  will  also  be  found  under  that  parish.  The  Stirlings  come  after 
these,  and  they  are  followed  by  the  Lindsays,  who  acquired  the  lordship  of 
Glenesk  by  marrying  Catherine  Stirling,  one  of  the  two  co-heiresses  of  the 
last  male  Stirling,  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century.  The  Lindsays 
remained  proprietors  of  Glenesk,  including  Edzell  and  Lethnot.  until  the  lord- 
ship was  purchased  from  David,  the  last  Lindsay  laird,  by  James,  fourth  Earl 
of  Panmure,  in  1714,  and  they  remain  in  the  family. 

Although  Lethnot  continued  the  property  of  the  chief  of  the  Lindsays,  who 
was  sometimes  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  at  others  the  baron  of  Edzell,  there 

Y 


170  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

is  some  difficulty  in  showing  the  names  of  the  proprietors  of  the  parish  of 
Lethnot.  There  is  another  Lethnot  in  Glen  Clova,  which  was  also  possessed 
by  a  branch  of  the  Lindsays.  In  the  first  volume  of  the  Lives  of  the  Lindsays, 
pp.  428  to  446,  a  list  of  the  properties  in  the  county  owned  by  the  Lindsays  is 
given  ;  also  their  Christian  names  and  the  dates  on  which  they  are  known  to 
have  been  the  proprietors.  Some  of  these  who  are  connected  with  the  Fentons 
of  Baikie  we  know  to  have  been  of  the  Clova  Lethnot  branch  ;  but  David  of 
1479-81,  Thomas  of  1517-49,  David  of  1556,  Thomas  of  1617,  and  Alexander 
of  1666,  are  designed  of  Lethnot  only,  and  we  are  not  able  to  say  from  which 
of  the  two  any  of  these  had  their  title,  but  it  is  probable  that  some  of  them 
were  proprietors  of  the  one,  and  some  of  them  of  the  other. 

From  a  remote  period  the  district  of  Navar  and  the  lordship  of  Brechin 
have  been  conjoined,  and  had  a  common  proprietary  history.  This  we  have 
already  given  in  the  chapter  on  the  landward  parish  of  Brechin  (Vol.  III.,  pp. 
2  to  8),  and  it  is  not  therefore  necessary  to  repeat  it  here  ;  suffice  it  to  say 
King  William  the  Lion  besto\ved  them  upon  his  brother,  David,  Earl  of 
Huntingdon  and  the  Garioch,  He  bestowed  them  upon  his  natural  son,  Sir 
Henry,  who  assumed  Brechin  as  a  surname.  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Sir  William  de  Brechin.  He  was  followed  by  his  son,  Sir 
David,  who  was  forfeited  and  beheaded  by  The  Bruce,  and  his  estates 
were  bestowed  on  his  brother-in-law,  ^ir  David  Barclay,  who  was 
succeeded  in  Brechin  and  Navar  by  his  son  in  1350.  lie  died  in  1364,  and, 
by  marriage  with  his  only  daughter,  they  were  acquired  by  Walter  Stewart, 
Earl  of  Athole.  On  his  execution,  in  1437,  they  fell  to  the  Crown,  by  whom 
they  were  retained  until  given  to  the  widow  of  the  eighth  Earl  of  Douglas,  in 
1472-3.  They  passed  through  the  hands  of  the  Crawford  I'uke  of  Montrose, 
then  of  James  Stewart,  Earl  of  Ross,  who  got  them  1480-1.  On  his  death 
in  1504  they  came  into  the  King's  hands,  and  then  fell  to  Sir  Thomas 
Erskine,  Secretary  of  State  to  James  V.,  in  1550.  The  Earl  of  Mar  subse- 
quently held  them,  anil  Sir  Patrick  Maule  of  Panmure  purchased  them,  and 
had  charter  of  Brechin  and  Navar,  15tli  October,  1634.  They  were  forfeited 
in  1716,  but  these  and  other  estates  were  reacquired  by  the  Earl  of  Panmure, 
since  which  time  they  have  remained  in  the  family,  and  they  are  now  possessed 
by  the  Earl  of  Dalliousie. 

The  lands  of  Nathrow  and  of  Tillybirnie  were  at  one  time  held  by  cadets 
of  the  old  family  of  Douglas  of  Tilly whilly  in  the  Mearns.  In  1649  the 
lands    of  Nathrow,  in   the   parish    of   Navar,  were  infeft    in  Sir    Robert 


Chap.  XXXIY.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LETHNOT  k  NAVAR.         171 

Douglas,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  John  Douglas  of  Tilliquhillie.  (Keg.  de. 
Pan.,  328.)  Shortly  thereafter  these  lands  were  acquired  by  George,  second 
Earl  of  Panraure,  and  they  were  possessed  by  Charles  Robertson  about  the 
end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  On  27th  April,  1G97,  Donald  Eobertson  of 
Kathrow,  heir  of  Charles  Eobertson  of  Nathrow,  his  father,  was  retoured  in  the 
town  and  lands  of  Nathrow,  in  the  parish  of  Navar.  E.  12  m.  firmjE.  These 
lands  were  subsequently  acquired  by  the  proprietor  of  the  estate  of  Careston, 
and  they  have  since  then  formed  part  of  that  fine  estate,  the  present  pro- 
prietor being  John  Adamson,  baron  of  Careston. 

Easter  Tillyarblet  was  owned  by  the  Erskines,  descendants  of  the  family  of 
Dun.  From  this  family  the  property  passed  to  Skene  of  Careston.  It  was 
afterwards  acquired  by  James  Wilkie,  manufacturer,  Kirriemuir,  shortly 
after  the  middle  of  this  century.  He  sold  the  estate  to  the  late  Fox  Maule, 
Earl  of  Dalhousie,  and  since  then  it  has  been  annexed  to  the  Panmure  estate. 
Wester  Tillyarblet  has,  from  an  early  period,  formed  part  of  the  estate  of 
Navar,  the  property  of  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie.  These  properties  were  among 
those  forfeited  in  1716,  and  bought  back  by  William,  Earl  of  Panmure,  as 
already  related. 

In  the  Valuation  EoU  of  1683  Lethnot  and  Navar  parishes  are  entered  as 
follows : — 

Names,  1822.     Props.,  1822.  Valuation. 

Earl  of  Panmure,    .             .             £247     0     0  Navar,            Hon.  W.  Maule,  £247     0    0 

Dunne,         .             .             .                  G2  10     0     Do.,                          Do.,  62  10     0 

Nathro,        .             .             .                116  13     4  Nathro,          Geo.  Skene,  116  13    4 

John  Erskine,          .             .                  20  16     8  Tillyarblet,           Do.,  20  16     8 

Balnamoon,  including  Auchfersie,     107     0     0  Auclifersie,  Jas.  Carnegy,  107     0     0 

£554    0    0  £554    0    0 

Lethnot  estate  is  valued  in  cumulo  with  Edzell  and  Lochlee,  and  no  division 
by  decree  can  be  traced  showing  the  value  of  Lethnot,  but  it  has  been  entered 
for  many  years  past  at  £618  16s.  The  lands  of  Auchfersie,  which,  in  1822, 
belonged  to  James  Carnegj^,  and  were  included  in  Lethnot  parish,  have  for 
some  time  past  been  included  in  the  Balnamoon  estate,  in  the  parish  of  Men- 
muir,  and  not  in  Lethnot. 


172  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part,  XIV. 


Chap.  XXXV.— LIFF  AND  BENVIE. 

The  church  of  LifF  was  within  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews.  It  was  given  by 
King  Alexander  I.  (1106-1124)  to  the  Abbey  of  Scone,  He  is  said  to  have 
had  a  residence  at  Hurley  Hawkin.  The  church  was  dedicated  to  St 
Mary,  Virgin,  and  Mary  or  Lady  Well  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the 
north  of  the  church. 

The  Church  of  Banevyn  or  Banevill  (Benvie)  belonged  to  St  Andrews,  and 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  David  in  1243.  It  was  a  rectory  in  ancient  times, 
the  gift  of  a  lay  proprietor,  never  having  been  granted  to  any  ecclesiastical 
superior  either  in  Komish,  Episcopal,  or  Presbyterian  times.  The  patron 
Saint  of  Benvie  is  imknown.  The  parish  was  joined  to  Liff  in  November,  1758. 

The  Church  of  Invergowrie  is  said  to  have  been  erected  of  wood  by  Boniface, 
a  papal  missionary  who  introduced  the  ritual  of  the  Latin  or  Western  Church 
into  Angus,  Archbishop  Spottiswood  says  in  A.D.  697,  but  Mills,  in  his 
history  of  the  Popes,  says  in  A.D.  431,  being  the  8th  year  of  the  pontificate 
of  Pope  Celestine.  It  was  the  first  Christian  church  north  of  the  Tay. 
Boniface  built  another  church  at  Tealing,  and  a  third  at  Eesteneth.  The 
church  of  Invergoueryn  was  dedicated  to  S.  Peter,  Apostle,  and,  with  its 
emoluments,  was  given  by  Malcolm  IV.  (1153-1 1G5)  to  the  Abbey  of  Scone,  of 
which  he  was  the  founder.  The  canons  served  the  cure  by  a  vicar  pensioner, 
appointed  by  the  Chapter.  Tiie  church  is  believed  to  have  been  in  the 
diocese  and  commi^sariat  of  St  Andrews.  It  was  erected  on  a  small  mound 
near  to  where  the  burn  of  Cowrie,  the  "  Plumen  Gobriat  in  Pictavia"  falls 
into  the  Tay.  '1  he  ruins  of  the  church  are  roofless  and  covered  with  ivy. 
The  parish  was  sujall  and  the  area  of  the  church  correspondingly  limited,  but 
at  some  period  it  had  been  enlarged  by  the  erection  of  an  aisle  on  its  north 
side.  With  this  addition  it  had  been  sufficient  for  the  congregation,  as  the 
parish  was  small.  The  age  of  the  church  is  unknown,  but  it  is  very  old.  The 
church  is  the  burying  ground  of  the  family  of  Invergowrie.  The  fragment  of 
two  cui'iously  sculptured  stones  are  built  in  the  south-east  window  in  the  ruins 
of  the  church.  The  arch  or  top  lintel  of  the  door  of  the  church  is  of  the  same 
chaiac.er  as  that  in  the  lower  part  of  the  tower  of  Kesteneth,  which  was  also  a 
foundation  of  Boniface.  The  remains  of  a  piscina  of  an  early  type  are  near 
the  west  door. 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  173 

The  Church  of  Logie  was  given  by  Alexander  I.  to  Scone  Abbey.  At  the 
Eeformation  Logie  was  a  separate  parish,  extending  as  far  eastward  as  the 
Constitution  Eoad  and  Barrack  Street,  and  to  the  V^'est  Port,  Park  Phice  &c. 
The  parish  was  suppressed  prior  to  1620,  at  which  time  the  eastern  third 'part 
was  annexed  to  Dundee,  and  the  other  two  thirds  to  Liff.  The  Churcli  of 
Logie  stood  on  the  summit  of  a  small  mound  on  the  side  of  the  highway  from 
Dundee  to  Lochee,  and  the  area  and  sides  of  the  mount  were  used  as  a  ceme- 
tery, which  is  still  known  as  Logie  Burying  Ground.  A  burial  aisle  was 
erected  by  the  late  Major  Fyfe  of  Logie,  and  Smithfield  in  Monikie,  but  in 
which  no  interment  has  been  made.  It  occupies  the  site  of  the  churcli.  The 
graveyard  was  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall  in  1837.  Owing  to  the  overcrowded 
state  of  the  burial  ground  it  was  closed,  v.dth  some  exceptions,  against  further 
interments,  by  order  of  the  Privy  Council,  19th  February,  1870.  Before  the 
Eeformation  the  Parish  Church  of  Logie  or  Logie-Dundee,  with  all  its 
emoluments,  was  granted  as  a  mensal  church  to  the  Bishop  of  Brechin,  the  cui'e 
being  served  by  a  vicar  appointed  by  the  Bishop.  It  was  in  the  diocese  of  St 
Andrews,  and  dedicated  by  Bishop  David  in  1 263,  but  it  is  not  known  to  whom. 

In  the  Old  Taxation,  Benevyn  in  Gouryn  is  rated  at  100  shillings  ;  Lif  8 
merks  ;  Invergoueryn,  8  merks ;  and  Logy-Dundie,  12  merks.  (Keg.  de 
Aberb.,  p.  238.)     The  three  last  named  churches  being  in  Anegus  (Ano-us). 

The  old  bell  which  belonged  to  the  Cluuch  of  Benvie  is  kept  at  the  manse 
of  Liff.     It  bears  the  following  names  and  date  : — 

Michael  Bvugerhvys.  M.  F.  1631. 
M.  Hendrie.  Fithie. 

Henry  Fithie  was  admitted  minister  of  Benvie  before  4th  April,  1627,  and 
was  translated  to  Mains  about  1633.  He  along  with  seventeen  other  ministers 
in  the  Synod  of  Angus  and  Mearns  were,  in  1649,  deposed  for  loyalty  to  Kino- 
Charles  I.  He  continued  in  favour  with  the  Earl  of  Panmure,  and  probably 
retired  to  Claypots  Castle  after  his  deprivation,  as  was  shown  in  the  chapter  on 
the  landward  parish  of  Dundee. 

The  Church  of  Benvie  stood  on  a  rising  ground  on  the  right  bank  or  south 
side  of  the  burn  ofGowrie,  and  about  two  miles  above  the  Church  of  Inver- 
gowrie.  The  church  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  graveyard,  and  a  small  portion 
of  the  building,  ivy-covered,  still  remains,  but  so  luxuriant  is  the  ivy  that  little 
of  the  masonry  is  visibh.'.       The  burial  ground  was  recently  enclosed  with  a 


174  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

good  stone  wall,  built  up  to  the  level  of  the  ground,  which  is  about  five  feet 
above  the  surrounding  land.  It  is  a  pity  that  the  grave  stones  in  the  burying 
ground  were  not  arranged  in  straight  lines,  and  the  ground  levelled  when  the 
wall  was  put  up.  There  are  many  stones  in  the  burial  ground,  some  of  whicli 
had  been  erected  in  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  are  very 
interesting,  but  they  cannot  be  seen  properly  as  they  now  are. 

The  sculptured  stone  (Vol.  I.,  p.  24)  stands  near  the  centre  of  the  ground. 
There  are  a  number  of  figures  of  men  on  foot  and  on  horseback,  and  other 
figures  on  both  the  obverse  and  reverse  of  the  stone,  and  the  edges  have  also 
been  ornamented,  but  when  we  saw  it,  in  September,  1880,  the  stone  was  so 
covered  with  moss  as  to  hide  the  sculptures.  A  stone  with  the  armorial  bear- 
ings of  John,  first  Viscount  of  Diidhope,  who  fell  at  Marston  Moor,  impaled 
with  those  of  his  lady,  a  daughter  of  the  first  Earl  of  Roxburghe,  and  the  initials 
V.I.D.,  L.I.C.,  and  the  date  1643,  also  an  old  baptismal  font,  are  in  the 
churchyard. 

There  was  a  medicinal  well  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  burn  at  the  Church 
of  Benvie.  We  are  not  aware  if  the  well  be  still  there,  and  if  it  be,  whether 
or  not  it  retains  its  medicinal  virtues.  We  hope  it  continues  to  possess  its 
ancient  virtues,  and  should  the  plague  again  appear  in  the  district,  the  water 
may  yet  save  the  people  the  necessity  of  incurring  doctor's  bills.  The  following 
is  the  legend  of  the  well : — 

The  hamlet  of  Benvie  was  haunted  by  a  ghost  in  very  old  times,  who  every 
night  walked  mournfully  up  and  down  the  banks  of  the  stream  in  a  white  robe, 
and  was  the  terror  of  old  and  young.  The  ghost  was  known  as  the  White  Lady 
of  Benvie.  The  clergyman,  dressed  in  full  canonicals,  with  Bible  in  hand, 
met  the  White  Lady,  and  asked  her  who  and  what  she  was.  "  Holy  man,"  she 
said,  "  I  am  the  spirit  of  a  victim  of  the  plague,  who,  being  a  stranger  here, 
my  body  was  buried  in  unconsecrated  ground  ;  remove  it  to  the  consecrated 
churchyard,  and  out  of  the  spot  where  it  has  lain  will  spring  forth  water  that 
will  be  an  infallible  cure  for  the  })lague  in  all  ages."  "  Thy  wish  will  be  com- 
plied with,"  said  the  minister,  "  and  in  all  time  coming  we  will  be  free  from 
the  fear  of  this  scourge  of  the  sixteenth  century."  Such  is  the  tradition  of  the 
medicinal  well  of  Benvie. 

In  the  garden  of  Benvie  House  there  are  two  ash  trees  of  vast  size.  The 
one  nearest  the  house  is  12|  feet  in  girth  about  four  feet  above  the  ground, 
with  a  straight,  clean,  beautiful  stem  without  a  branch,  of  about  40  feet  in 
heio-ht,  above  which  it  branches  out  into  a  handsome  top,  covered  with  foliage, 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGCTS  IN  PAEISHES— LIFF  &  BENYIE.  175 

The  sister  tree  stands  a  little  to  the  south  of  tlie  other.  About  fifty  years 
ago  it  measured  17  feet  10  inches  in  girth  at  two  feet  from  the  ground.  We 
measured  it  carefully  about  four  feet  above  the  ground,  and  found  it  18  feet  4 
inches  in  girth.  The  trunk  tapered  up  to  this  height.  At  two  feet  above  the 
ground  it  must  be  quite  twenty  feet  in  girth.  From  the  trunk  a  few  small 
branches  have  sprung  out  within  the  last  few  years,  which  detract  from  its 
beauty.  With  the  exception  of  these,  the  stem  rises  straight  and  clean  for 
fully  thirty  feet,  when  it  throws  out  huge  branches,  and  forms  a  large  bushy  top. 

Both  these  trees  must  be  of  great  age,  but  they  a})pear  to  be  still  healthy,  no 
sign  of  decay  being  visible  in  either.  They  are  remarkable  specimens  of  forest 
trees,  than  which  few  more  magnificent  of  the  kind  are  to  be  seen  in  the  king- 
dom, and  they  are  well  w^ortby  of  a  visit  from  those  interested  in  arboriculture. 

Benvie  lies  low,  but  it  is  a  pretty  spot.  The  burn  which  runs  through  the 
fine  den  of  Balruddery  is  here  joined  by  the  Bians  Burn  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  pretty  Den  of  Fowlis,  through  which  it  flows.  The  united  burn  is  at  once 
called  upon  to  turn  the  machinery  of  the  mill  of  Fowdis,  after  which  it  goes 
gently  forward  through  the  Carse  land  in  front  of  Gray  House,  receives  the 
burn  from  the  Den  of  Gray,  then  the  Lochee  Burn,  and,  as  the  Gowrie,  it  does 
duty  at  liullion  and  at  Invergowrie,  after  which  it  is  lost  in  the  Tay. 

The  Church  of  Lifif  is  a  modern  erection  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture, 
from  designs  by  M'Kenzie,  the  city  architect  of  Perth.  On  the  west  end  tliere 
is  an  elegant  square  battleraented  tower  which  rises  to  the  height  of  sixty  feet, 
surmounted  by  a  neat  spire  forty-four  feet  in  helglit,  the  tower  and  spire  thus 
rising  to  an  elevation  of  104  feet.  Both  church  and  tower  have  appropriate 
ornaments,  and  the  interior  of  the  church  is  handsome  and  commodious.  This 
church,  which  was  built  in  1838,  supplanted  a  very  old  one  which  had  probably, 
been  built  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  bell  which  had 
long  done  service  in  the  old  church,  was  removed  to  the  tower  in  the  new 
church.  It  has  the  following  inscription:— IAN  BYRQERHVIS  HEEFT 
MY  GEGOTEN,  '96.  The  inscription  is  in  the  Dutch  language,  but  we 
are  unable  to  give  the  translation  in  English. 

1'he  church  and  tower  are  erected  on  the  brow  of  the  rising  ground  to  the 
north  of  the  House  of  Gray.  The  site  is  commanding  and  beautiful.  The 
spire  rises  above  the  tops  of  the  lofty  trees  which  surround  the  church  and 
hide  it  in  some  directions,  and  it  is  a  pretty  object  from  whatever  direction  it 
is  viewed. 


176  ANGUS  OR  FOKFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

The  churchyard  is  between  the  church  and  the  pretty  Den  of  Gray,  which 
runs  down  on  the  west.  The  water  in  the  Den  is  a  tiny  stream,  and  ahiiost 
hidden  by  the  dense  foliage  of  the  trees  and  shrubbery,  which  quite  shuts  out 
the  sun's  rays. 

Close  by  the  Church  of  Liflf,  and  separated  from  it  by  a  picturesque  and 
finely  wooded  ravine,  tlie  Den  of  Gray,  are  the  ruins  of  the  old  Castle  called 
"  Hurley  Ilawkin."  The  site  is  a  tongue  of  land  formed  by  the  junction  of 
two  rivulets,  and  the  ruins  form  a  small  circular  mound  with  large  grey  stones 
jutting  out  here  and  there,  but  the  ruins  are  nearly  hid  by  decaying  leaves  and 
vegetation.  It  was  examined  some  yaars  ago,  but  only  a  spur  and  some  ashes 
were  found.  Tlie  lands  of  Liff  and  Invergowrie,  with  their  respective  churches, 
were  gifted  to  King  Alexander  I.  at  his  baptism,  by  the  Lord  of  Gowrie,  one 
of  his  godfathers.  It  is  supposed  that  King  Alexander  erected  the  Castle  and 
occasionally  resided  in  it,  but  Heron,  in  his  History  of  Scotland,  refers  its 
erection  to  his  father,  Malcolm  III.  (1056-1093).  While  residing  here,  in 
the  year  1107,  he  was  surprised  in  his  Castle  of  Invergowrie  by  a  band  of 
rebels  from  Morayshire  and  the  ^learns,  but  by  the  vigilance  and  promptitude 
of  Alexander  de  Carron,  ancestor  of  the  Scrymgeours  of  Dudhope,  the  King 
was  enabled  to  escape  to  Invergowrie,  whence  he  crossed  the  Tay  to  Fife,  and 
passed  on  to  the  south.  In  gratitude  for  this  signal  deliverance  from  imminent 
peril,  the  monarch  granted  to  his  recently  erected  Abbey  of  tScone  the  lands 
of  Liff  and  Invergowrie, 

On  the  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Invergowrie  to  Lochee,  and  now  forming 
part  of  the  garden  wall  of  the  handsome  castellated  mansion  of  David  Matthew 
Watson,  of  Bullionfield  Taper  Works,  is  an  immense  block  of  isolated  rock, 
known  as  the  "Paddock  Stone."  When,  by  whom,  or  for  what  reason  this 
huge  stone  was  placed  where  it  has  so  long  stood  may  never  be  known,  but  no 
doubt  it  was  to  commemorate  some  important  event  long  since  furgotten,  and 
which  the  dumb  stone  cannot  throw  light  upon.  Although  the  stone  is  in  the 
line  of  the  garden  wall  it  is  not  built  into  it,  a  small  opening  having  been  left 
between  the  wall  and  the  stone  on  each  side,  so  that  the  stone  can  be  distinctly 
seen.  We  must  not  omit  the  legend  attached  to  this  stone.  The  Evil  One 
disapproves  of  churches.  Learning  from  some  of  his  emissaries  that  Boniface 
was  erecting  one  at  Invergowrie,  he  determined  to  destroy  it  without  taking  up 
the  time  necessary  to  cross  the  Tay.  I'aking  this  stone  in  his  hand,  and,  stand- 
ing on  the  high  ground  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  he  hurled  it  with  great 
force  at  the  kirk  and  the  men  engaged  in  its  erection.       He  must  have  mis- 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LIFF  &  BEN  VIE.  177 

calculated  the  distance  or  his  own  strength,  as  the  stone,  instead  of  crashing 
church  and  men,  went  flying  over  them  and  lighted  half-a-mile  beyond,  where 
it  has  since  then  lain. 

Another  large  upright  stone,  part  of  which,  shattered  by  lightning,  lies 
beside  the  still  standing  portion,  is  in  a  field  on  the  farm  of  Menzieshill,  some 
distance  east  from  the  "  Paddock  Stone,"  but  history  is  equally  silent  about  the 
event  it  was  raised  to  record,  as  it  is  regarding  its  neighbour  by  the  wayside. 
Between  these  standing  stones,  and  close  by  the  north  side  of  the  said  road  to 
Lochee,  on  the  farm  of  Balgarthno,  is  a  clump  of  stones  called  tlie  "  Druids' 
Circle."  The  circle  is  formed  of  nine  large  and  four  smaller  stones,  the  largest 
being  about  five  feet  and  a  half  in  height  above  the  ground,  and  twelve  in 
circumference  at  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  circle  is  surrounded  by  a 
small  trench,  the  circumference  of  which  is  about  forty  yards.  The  circle  is 
supposed  to  have  been  erected  by  the  Druids  for  judicial  purposes,  and  the 
name  Balgarthno,  in  Gaelic,  is  favourable  to  this  hypothesis.  This  circle  and 
the  two  solitary  standing  stones  are  all  memorials  of  a  very  early,  if  not  of  a 
pre-historic  period. 

Near  the  east  boundary  of  Liff",  on  a  mound  surrounded  with  trees,  there  is 
a  stone  with  a  circular  hole  in  it  called  "  King's  Cross."  Boyce  says  Alpin, 
King  of  the  Scots,  raised  his  standard  upon  it  during  his  battle  with  the  Picts 
in  730,  and  after  his  defeat  he  was  beheaded  on  the  stone,  and  his  body  buried 
at  Pitalpin,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  stone.  Some  forty  years  ago  a  human 
skeleton  was  found  there,  which  was.,  for  a  time,  shown  in  Dundee  as  the 
remains  of  Alpin.  Near  the  close  of  last  century  several  graves  or  cists, 
constructed  of  rude  slabs  of  stone,  were  found  in  the  locality,  and  in  1732  a 
fine  "  snake  bracelet,"  now  in  the  Museum  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  in 
Edinburgh,  was  found  in  the  same  vicinity. 

Some  time  before  the  end  of  last  century  a  weem,  or  Pict's  house,  was  dis- 
covered in  a  field  which  had  been  long  under  cultivation  in  the  parish.  The 
plough  had  met  with  resistance,  and  in  digging  to  remove  the  stones  the  weena 
was  found.  Lord  Hailes  examined  the  building  minutely.  It  has  already 
been  described.     (Vol.  I.,  p.  55.) 

The  village  or  Kirkton  of  Liff"  is  a  small  straggling  hamlet,  having  little  to 
attract  a  stranger  except  the  church  and  its  surroundings.  The  manse,  to  the 
north-east  of  the  church,  is  a  comfortable  building,  with  garden  and  fine 
shrubbery,  &c. 

In  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century  Nether  Liff  belonged  to  Sir  George 
z 


178  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Hay,  Bart.,  a  son  of  Peter  Hay  of  Meggincb,  the  favourite  of  James  VI.  He 
was,  by  the  King,  created  a  Peer  on  IStli  February,  1598,  by  the  title  of  Lord 
Prior  of  the  Chartreux,  or  Charter  House  of  Perth.  Not  being  able  to  support 
the  dignity,  he  resigned  the  title,  studied  law,  and  rose  to  be  Lord  High 
Chancellor  of  Scotland,  to  which  he  was  appointed  IGth  July,  1622,  and 
elevated  to  the  Peerage  as  Lord  Hay  of  Kinfauns  and  Viscount  Duplin,  4th 
May,  1627,  and  Earf  of  Kinnoull,  25th  May,  1633.  Nether  LifF  adjoined  the 
village  of  LifF,  and  after  passing  out  of  Lord  KinnouU's  hands,  it  was  acquired 
by  a  family  named  Watson,  who  retained  possession  for  considerably  more  than 
a  century.  On  an  old  lintel  of  one  of  the  doors  of  the  steading  there  once  was 
an  inscription  in  rudely  formed  Roman  capitals  as  follows  : — 

THE 

D.  LOVE.  GATES. 

0.  BETHENAL.    THE   DW. 

INGS.  OF.  lACOB.  P.S.  87. 

This  inscription  was  long  a  puzzle  to  the  natives,  but  a  respected  antiquarian, 
now  no  more,  showed  it  was  meant  for  the  2d  verse,  87th  Psalm — "  The  Lord 
lovetli  the  gates  of  Zion  more  than  all  the  dwellings  of  Jacob." 

The  stone  may  have  been  the  lintel  of  the  door  of  the  old  church  which  pre- 
ceded the  one  demolished  in  1838. 

According  to  the  author  of  Caledonia,  Liff  is  derived  from  the  North  British 
or  Pictish  word  Liff,  a  flood  or  inundation,  but  why  such  a  name  should  have 
been  given  to  a  parish  or  district  all  but  without  a  river  it  is  difficult  to  con- 
jecture, as  the  tiny  streams  which  flow  through  the  parish  scarcely  deserve  the 
name  of  riv'^ulets.  Perhaps  the  name  may  have  been  given  at  the  remote 
period  when  the  Tay  flowed  along  the  bottom  of  the  Braes  of  the  Carse,  or 
when  the  Carse  was  covered  with  water  ;  when  InchiwxQ  and  other  places  in 
the  Carse  with  the  prefix  Inch  were  named.  Benvie  is  by  some  supposed  to 
be  of  Celtic  derivation,  from  "  Beinn  Bnidhe,"  signifying  "  the  yellow  hill  or 
mount," 

With  the  parish  of  LifF  were  conjoined  Benvie,  Invergowrie,  and  Logic,  all 
of  which  were  at  one  period  distinct  parishes  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  Lochee 
in  Liff,  and  part  of  the  old  parish  of  Logie,  were,  nearly  half  a  century  ago, 
erected  into  the  quoad  sacra  parish  of  Lochee.  The  parish  of  Invergowrie 
was  suppressed  prior  to  1618,  and  the  greater  part  of  it  attached  to  Liff. 
Before  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  parish  of  Logie,  which  in- 
cluded the  lands  of  Logie,  Balgay,  and  Blackness,  was  attached  to  Liff,  quoad> 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PAHISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  179 

temporalia.  The  greater  part  of  these  lands,  and  of  the  quoad  sacra  parish 
of  Lochee,  are  now  inchided  within  the  Parhamentary  boundary  of  Dundee. 
After  the  union  of  the  parishes  of  Liff  and  Benvie  took  place,  Lifi,  Benvie, 
and  Logie,  united  quod  omnia,  constitute  what  is  properly  termed  the  parish  ot 
Liff  and  Benvie. 

This  parish  is  situated  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  County  of  Forfar.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  west  by  Fowlis  Easter  and  Longforgan  ;  on  the  south  by 
the  Eiver  Tay  ;  on  the  east  by  Dundee  and  the  united  parishes  of  Mains  and 
Strathmartine  ;  and  on  the  north  by  Auchterhouse  and  Lundie,  from  which  it 
is  separated  by  the  Dighty  Water.  It  is  about  six  miles  from  east  to  west, 
and  four  miles  from  north  to  south.  Its  form  is  very  irregular,  and  it  con- 
tains 8049-404  imperial  acres,  of  which  8-600  are  water,  and  970-706  foreshore. 
The  surface  of  the  parish  is  finely  diversified,  and  in  many  parts  the  scenery  is 
very  beautiful.  It  rises  by  gentle  slopes  to  the  east  and  to  the  north  from  the 
old  Church  of  Invergowrie,  the  culminating  point  on  the  east  being  Balgay 
Hill,  and  on  the  north  the  ridge  upon  which  the  Birkhill  and  the  Backmuir  of 
Liff  Feus  are  built,  from  which  it  declines  to  the  north  on  the  Di-hty,  which 
bounds  the  parish  in  that  direction.  The  elevated  ground  about  the  Church 
of  Liff  and  at  Balruddery  diversify  the  scenery,  as  these  are  picturesque  spots. 

The  beautifully  situated  old  mansions  of  Gray  and  Invergowrie,  surrounded 
with  spacious  lawns  and  old  ancestral  trees  ;  the  grand  new  mansion  of 
Balruddery,  with  its  famous  den  and  pretty  grounds  ;  and  the  noble  palatial 
mansion  of  Camperdown,  in  a  spacious  park,  dotted  with  lofty  trees  and  lovely 
gardens,  are  each  pictures  of  rare  beauty  which  can  hardly  be  surpassed.  The 
palace  of  Camperdown  silently  reminds  us  of  the  gallant  and  noble  son  of 
Angus,  who,  under  extraordinary  difficulties,  won  the  glorious  victory  which 
the  name  of  the  mansion  keeps  fresh  in  our  memory. 

Near  the  summit  of  the  ridge  wliich  forms,  as  it  were,  the  backbone  of  the 
parish,  on  the  sides  of  the  highway  leading  from  Dundee  to  Strathmore,  are  a 
succession  of  hamlets  and  pendicles,  including  Birkhill  Feus,  Muirhead,  and 
Backmuir  of  Liff,  which,  together,  form  a  wayside  village,  somewhat  pic- 
turesque, if  not  pretty,  adjoining  which  is  the  neat  Free  Church  of  Liff,  with 
a  good  manse  and  garden.  There  are,  besides,  churches  of  various  denomina- 
tions within  the  western  sections  of  Dundee  and  in  Lochee,  but  as  they  are 
included  within  the  Parliamentary  boundary  of  Dundee,  we  omit  farther  notice 
of  them  here.  For  some  distance  on  both  sides  of  the  highway  leading  through 
the  Carse  of  Gowrie,  and  also  in  the  vicinity  of,  but  outwith  Lochee,  there  are 


180  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

many  handsome,  commodious  villas,  with  tastefully  laid  out  gardens,  lawns, 
and  shrubberies,  the  residences  of  opulent  gentlemen  who  have  their  business 
premises  in  Dundee  and  Lochee.  The  Hill  of  Balgay,  already  mentioned,  is 
the  most  prominent  object  in  the  eastern  district  of  the  parish.  The  eastern 
section  of  the  hill  is  laid  out  as  a  public  park  for  the  free  use  of  tlie  community, 
and  it  is  a  lovely  and  picturesque  spot,  commanding  grand  views  in  various 
directions.  The  western  section  is  now  the  Western  Necropolis,  as  beautiful  a 
graveyard  as  is  anywhere  to  be  seen.  Both  sections  of  the  Hill  are  crowned 
with  lofty  trees,  and  a  walk  in  either  is  both  pleasing  and  invigorating. 

From  what  we  have  already  said,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  united  parishes 
contain  scenery  diversified  as  beautiful.  It  has  its  wild  and  gloomy  dens,  its 
wooded  knolls  and  hills,  its  rills  and  streams,  rich  champaign  fields,  and  its 
emerald  lawns,  soft  as  a  Turkey  carpet,  and  studded  with  trees  of  many  sorts, 
centuries  old,  huge  in  girth,  and  of  vast  height.  Both  the  urban  and  rural 
districts  have  much  that  is  pleasing,  and  much  that  is  attractive. 

From  various  points  the  prospect  is  extremely  fine  and  very  extensive.  The 
view  of  the  majestic  Tay  and  the  Fife  coast  beyond,  with  Norman  Law  and 
the  lofty  Lomond  Hills  towering  over  the  coast  line,  present  scenes  of  great 
beauty,  which  the  flowing  and  the  ebbing  tides  and  the  progress  of  the  sun  in 
its  daily  course,  are  ever  changing.  To  the  west  is  the  rich  Carse  of  Gowrie, 
hemmed  in  on  the  north  by  the  Sidlaws,  peaked  and  picturesque,  with  Mon- 
crieff  Hill  in  the  centre,  and  the  crests  of  the  Ochil  Hills  beyond.  These  and 
many  other  scenes  which  might  be  mentioned  are  not  surpassed,  indeed  are 
not  equalled,  in  any  other  parish  in  the  county,  and  the  denizens  in  LifF  and 
Benvie  may  justly  say  they  live  in  the  premier  parish  in  the  county  for  beauties 
internal  and  external. 

Part  of  the  parish  had  been  divided  into  small  distinct  properties  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  if  not  at  an  earlier  period.  The  following  abstract  of 
retours  will  show  the  names  of  the  proprietors  and  the  lands  they  owned :  — 
On  nth  January,  1612,  Elizabeth  Traill,  spouse  of  Robert  Rollo,  heir  of 
George  Traill,  merchant  burgess  of  Dundee,  her  father,  was  retoured  (No.  78) 
in  the  fourth  part  of  the  lands  of  Kirkton  of  LifF  and  others.  On  23d 
June,  1618,  William  Fallarton  of  that  ilk,  heir  of  Lord  (Sir)  William 
Fullarton,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  103)  in  the  fourth  part  of  the  town 
and  lands  of  Kirkton  of  LifF,  the  fourth  part  of  the  Kirkcroft,  and  the  fourth 
part  of  the  Brewlands. 

On  25th  July,  1632,  Master  Patrick  Panter,  of  St  Andrews,  heir  of  Andrew 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  181 

Panter,  burgess  of  Dundee,  his  father,  was  retoured  (N"o,  207)  in  an  annual  of 
200  merks  out  of  the  quarter  lands  of  the  Kirkton  of  Liff  and  Brewland.  On 
16th  May,  1631,  Edward.  Montagu,  heir  male  of  Edward  Montagu,  was  re- 
toured  (No.  222)  in  the  eighth  part  of  the  Kirkton  of  Liff,  Kirkcrofts,  and 
Brewland.  On  3d  May,  1639,  Janet  Peirson,  spouse  of  Piohert  Fletcher, 
burgess  of  Dundee,  heir  of  John,  son  of  James  Peirson,  merchant  burgess,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  2.51)  in  the  fifth  part  of  the  town  and  land  of  Easter 
Liff,  and  of  other  lands  in  the  parish.  On  10th  June,  1640,  James  Boyter  of 
Nether  Liff,  heir  of  James  of  Nether  Liff,  merchant  burgess  of  Dundee,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  256)  in  the  eighth  part  of  the  Kirkton  of  Liff, 
Kirkcroft,  and  Brewland  of  Liff. 

On  26th  May,  1654,  John  Thomson,  heir  of  James  Thomson,  his  brother, 
was  retoured  (No.  335)  in  the  fourth  part  of  the  lauds  of  Kirkton,  Kirkcroit, 
and  Brewlands  of  Liff,  the  Dovecotyard,  Knaveship,  and  custody  of  the  corn 
mill  of  said  town  and  the  land  thereof.  On  7th  December,  1671,  Alexander 
Traill,  heir  of  John  Traill,  was  retoured  (No.  453)  in  the  fourth  part  of  the 
land  of  the  Kirkton  of  Liff,  and  of  the  town  called  Brewlands,  in  the  lordship 
of  Scone. 

Part,  if  not  the  whole,  of  the  lands  of  Invergowrie  were  granted  by  Alexander 
I.  to  the  Abbey  of  Scone.  They  remained  in  the  Abbey  until  close  upon  the 
dissolution  of  the  religious  houses,  if  not  up  to  that  event. 

It  appears  that  some  time  before  the  dissolution,  the  lands  of  Invergowrie, 
or  Newbiggiug  as  they  were  called  at  an  earlier  period,  were  in  possession  of 
Sir  John  Carnegie,  of  that  Ilk.  The  Abbot  of  Scone,  as  well  as  those  of 
Arbroath  and  Cupar,  anticipating  the  Reformation,  had  probably  sold  the 
lands  to  Sir  John  some  time  before  it  took  place.  When,  or  how,  he  acquired 
them  is  unknown,  but  that  he  owned  them  is  certain,  as,  in  the  year  1568,  he 
sold  the  property  to  Sir  Patrick  Gray,  second  son  of  Patrick  Gray  of  Butter- 
gask  and  second  Lord  Gray,  by  Marion,  daughter  of  James,  fourth  Lord  Ogilvy. 
Sir  Patrick  was  designed  of  Invergowrie,  but  he  may  only  have  held  part  of  the 
estate.  The  eldest  daughter  of  John  Carnegie  of  Carnegie  was  married  to 
Gilbert  Gray  of  Banderran  in  1583. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  religious  houses,  James  VI.  bestowed  Inver- 
gowrie upon  the  Earl  of  G-ovvrie.  This  may  have  been  the  portion  of  the 
lands  which  the  Abbot  had  not  disposed  of  to  Sir  John  Carnegie.  After  the 
forfeiture  of  the  Earl,  the  lands  were  given  to  Sir  David  Murray  of  Gospetrie, 


182  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Paet  XIV. 

Knight,  Captain  in  the  King's  Guard,  in  whose  favour  the  Abbey  was  erected 
into  a  temporal  lordship  by  tlie  King,  7th  April,  1604.  As  Invergowrie  was 
possessed  by  two  parties  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  sixteenth,  and  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  lands  must  have  been  divided  into  two 
sections  about  that  time. 

Andrew  Gray,  a  cadet,  if  not  a  son,  of  the  noble  family  of  Gray,  acquired 
from  Sir  David  Murray  that  part  of  the  barony  which  contains  the  mansion 
house  of  Invergowrie,  and  his  name  and  designation  appear  frequently  between 
1590  and  1608.  His  arms,  with  the  motto  God  gevis,  and  those  of  his  wife, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  noble  family  of  Napier,  are  on  stones  on  the  estate. 
On  another  is  the  motto,  soli  Deo  gratis,  with  the  initials,  P.G.  and  AN.  On 
one  of  the  stones  on  the  gate  is  the  date  1601. 

The  lands  of  Invergowrie  appear  to  have  been  still  further  subdivided,  and 
sold  to  several  parties  in  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Families 
of  the  name  of  Smythe  and  Moreis  acquired  parts  of  them,  but  the  year  is 
not  known,  the  earhest  we  have  being  the  second  or  third  generation  of  the 
families  who  owned  them.  On  27th  August,  1641,  James  Smythe  in  Dundee, 
heir  of  his  grandfather,  Andrew  Smythe,  was  retoured  (No.  260)  in  half  the 
grain  mill  and  mill  lands  of  Invergowrie,  E.  50s  4d.  Of  same  date  William 
Moreis,  heir  of  William  Moreis,  his  father,  portioner  of  Wester  Invergowrie, 
was  retoured  (No.  259)  in  the  eighth  part  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Wester 
Invergowrie,  E.  30s,  Ac. 

On  18th  May,  1642,  James,  Earl  of  Annandale,  Lord  Murray  of  Lochmaben, 
heir  male  of  the  fifth  Viscount  Stormonth,  was  retoured  (No.  268)  iu  the  lord- 
ship and  barony  of  Scone,  v;liich,  besides  many  other  lands,  included  those  of 
the  town  and  lands  of  the  Kirkton  of  Liff,  lands  of  Nether  and  Easter  Liflf, 
Wester  and  Easter  Gourdie,  Pitalpie,  Dryburgh,  Blackness,  Balgarthno, 
Balgay,  Logic,  Easter  and  Wester  Invergowrie,  with  the  corn  and  fulling 
mills,  Denmill,  &c.,  in  the  barony  called  Angus. 

On  25th  April,  1662,  David,  Viscount  of  Stormonth,  Lord  Scone,  and  Bal- 
vaird,  heir  male  of  the  fifth  Viscount  of  Stormonth,  was  retoured  (Xo.  387)  in 
the  lordship  and  barony  of  Scone,  including  the  lands  as  detailed  in  above  re- 
tour  (Xo.  268).  On  7th  October,  1668,  David,  Viscount  Stormonth,  heir  of 
Viscount  David,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  435)  in  the  Angus  lands  of 
Nether  and  Over  Dardie,  with  mill  of  Dundaflfe,  town  and  lands  of  Kirkton  of 
Liff,  Easter  Liff,  Brewlands,  Brighouse  and  coru  mill,  Wester,  Middle,  and 
Easter  Gowrie,  Pitalpin,  Dryburgh,  Blackness,  Balgay,  Balgartney,    Logie, 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  183 

Easter  Invergowrie,  Wester  Invergowrie  with  corn  mill  and  fulling  mill, 
Penmill,  Smiddie  crofts  and  Darges,  partly  in  the  town  and  barony  called 
Angus.  l"'erhaps  these  two  retours  were  of  the  superiority  only  of  these  lands, 
as  the  family  of  Clayhills  of  Baldovie  then  owned  them. 

We  have  not  ascertained  the  year  in  which  the  family  of  Clayhills  acquired 
Invergowrie,  but  we  think  it  was  a  short  time  prior  to  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Long  before  this  period,  as  has  been  shown  in  the  chapter 
of  the  landward  parish  of  Dundee,  the  family  were  proprietors  of  Baldovie, 
and  were  described  of  that  estate.  Tliey  also  owned  the  adjoining  estate  of 
Drumgeith  for  some  time. 

On  22d  September,  1664  (retour  408),  David  Clayliills  succeeded  his  father, 
Kobert,  in  Easter  Invergowrie,  or  Newbigging,  Wester  Invergowrie,  with  the 
fulling  mill  of  Easter  and  Wester  Invergowrie,  and  the  corn  mill ;  lands  of  Bal- 
garthno,  with  crofts  ;  lands  called  Smithy  and  Smithy  Croftland  of  Denmill, 
with  the  thirl  of  the  whole  ironwork  of  the  lands  of  the  lordship  of  Scone  in 
Angus  astricted  thereto  ;  the  tenth  part  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Liff  and  Back- 
setts,  all  in  Liflf,  Logie,  and  Invergowrie ;  the  lands  of  Easter  Liff  and  Back- 
seatis,  &c.  David  Clayhills  died  without  issue,  and  on  14th  January,  1669, 
James  Clayhills  of  Nether  Liff,  heir  male  of  David  Clayhills,  was  retoured 
(No.  436)  in  the  lands  detailed  in  the  above  retour  (No.  408).  The  Backseattis 
mentioned  is  the  Backmuir  of  Liff.  To  be  astricted  or  bound  to  grind  the 
whole  corn  grown  on  a  farm  at  a  particular  mill,  or  to  have  the  whole  smith 
work  done  at  a  particular  smithy,  was  found  to  be  a  serious  hardship,  as  the 
multure  on  the  grain,  and  thirl  of  the  smith  work,  were  exacted  at  the  pleasure 
of  the  miller  or  smith,  and  often  excessive.  These  restrictions  have  generally 
been  abolished,  but  at  some  mills  they  are  still  exacted. 

Since  the  date  of  the  last  retour  of  service  of  James  Clayhills  in  1669,  the 
estate  has  remained  in  the  family  of  Clayhills.  He  was  nephew  of  his  prede- 
cessor, David  Clayhills.  Some  time  subsequent  to  his  accession,  but  we  have 
not  ascertained  the  date,  the  male  line  of  Clayhills  failed,  and  the  estate  came, 
through  a  female,  to  Menzies  of  Menzieshill,  which  adjoins  to  and  now  forms 
part  of  Invergowrie  estate.  He  assumed  the  surname  of  Clayhills,  and  from 
him  the  present  proprietor  is  descended. 

The  family  of  Clayhills  were  for  centuries  prominent  merchants,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  Guildry  Incorporation  of  Dundee.  By  honourable  and  successful 
.trading  they  acquired  wealth,  and  invested  it  on  lands  in  the  county.  In  so 
doing  they  were  not  singular,  as  the  ancestors  of  many  of  the  landed  pro- 


184  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

prietors  in  Forfarshire  and  the  neighbouring  counties  were  burgesses  of  Dundee. 
The  acquisition  of  landed  estate  by  successful  industry  is  the  most  honourable 
way  in  which  it  can  be  obtained,  and  the  descendants  of  such  men  may  look 
back  with  pride  to  the  ancestor  by  the  fruits  of  whose  industry  their  lands  were 
purchased. 

We  have  not  met  with  a  detailed  progressive  account  of  the  family  of  Clay- 
hills,  but  from  the  best  sources  at  our  command  we  have  made  up  the  follow- 
ing list  of  the  names  of  members  of  the  family,  with  the  dates  in  which  they 
appear,  with  some  other  particulars  regarding  them.  We  regret  that  we  could 
not  make  the  account  more  complete. 

In  1570  Peter  Clay  hills  was  a  leading  merchant  and  Guild  brother  of 
Dundee,  B.L.,  112. 

In  1573  William  Clayhills  was  an  Assessor  of  the  Dean — do.,  116. 

In  1579-81  and  87  Peter  Clayhills  was  Dean  of  Guild— do.,  222. 

In  1581  Peter  Clayhills,  burgess  of  Dundee,  and  Elizabeth  Wishart,  his 
spouse,  sold  a  tenement  in  the  Thorter  Row. 

In  Bailie  David  Wedderburn's  MSS.  there  is  an  undated  memorandum,  but 
apparently  before  1590,  thus — "  Lent  Peter  Clayhills  Dr  Faustes."  It  is  pro- 
bable that  Mrs  Clayhills  was  the  sister  of  Bailie  Wedderburn,  and  that  Peter 
Clayhills  was  the  father  or  uncle  of  Robert  Clayhills  of  Baldovie,  and  first  of 
Invergowrie,  who  was  succeeded  by  his  son  David,  in  September,  1664. 

In  1591  Peter  Clayhills  was  a  Town  Councillor — do.,  544.  Peter  Clayhills 
died  before  26th  November,  IGIO,  as  of  that  date  James  Clayhills,  burgess  of 
Dundee,  and  Elspeth  Wishart,  his  mother,  relict  of  Peter  Clayhills,  merchant 
burgess  of  Dundee,  sold  a  tenement  in  Thorter  Row  to  Robert  Clayhills,  The 
monument  No.  819  in  the  HowfF  is  by  Peter  Clayhills,  in  memory  of  his  wife, 
^largaret  Wedderburn,  who  died  in  1617. 

In  1611,  17, 19,  and  21,  Robert  Clayhills  was  Dean  of  Guild  of  Dundee— 
B.L.,  222. 

Robert  Clayhills  was  one  of  the  Bailies  in  1619 — do.,  552. 

In  1633  Robert  Clayhills  succeeded  his  father  in  the  lands  and  mill  of 
Baldovie. 

Robert  Clayhills  acquired  Invergowrie  a  short  time  before  the  middle  of  the 
seventeenth  century. 

On  22d  September,  1664,  David  Clayhills  succeeded  his  father,  Robert,  in 
Invergowrie,  Baldovie,  &c. 

On  4th  September,  1665,  the  late  Robert  Clayhills,  senior,  and  Robert  Clay- 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  185 

hills,  junior,  of  Baldovie,  and  David  Clayhills,  now  of  Baldovie,  are  mentioned. 
The  document  is  backed  David  Clayhills  of  Invergowrie.     (Inv.  Ch.) 

In  1G69  James  Clayhills  of  Nether  Liff  succeeded  to  Invergowrie  on  the  death 
of  David  Clayhills  of  Invergowrie,  his  nephew,  without  issue.  On  the  death  of 
this  laird,  or  of  his  son  and  successor,  the  male  line  of  the  family  of  Clayhills 
failed  in  a  female,  who  was  married  to  Menzies  of  Menzieshill.  He  succeeded  to 
Invergowrie,  and  assumed  the  surname  of  Clayhills.  Their  son,  James  Clay- 
hills of  Invergowrie,  married  Henrietta  Henderson  Kinloch,  heiress  of  Kailyards. 

James  Clayhills  succeeded  to  Hallyards  and  other  lands  on  the  death  of  his 
wife,  as  heir  of  entaih 

Their  eldest  son,  James  Menzies  Clayhills,  Captain  Eoyal  Scots,  born  178G, 
died  5th  November,  1817,  aged  31  years.  Their  second  son,  Alexander 
Clayhills  of  Invergowrie,  born  14th  January,  1796,  died  18th  June,  1865, 
aged  69.  Their  third  son,  George  Dunbar  Clayhills  Henderson,  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  Thomas  Beckett  of  Tliornton-le-Moor,  in  Yorkshire. 
By  her  he  had  George  David  Clayhills  Henderson,  v/ho  succeeded  to  Inver- 
gowrie on  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Alexander,  in  1865.  He  was  born  in  1832, 
and  in  1867  he  married  Catherine  Rose,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Borlase,  Bart., 
He  was  an  officer  in  the  Navy,  and  is  now  commander  E.N.,  is  a  J.P. 
and  D.L.  of  Forfarshire,  and  the  present  proprietor  of  the  estates  of 
Invergowrie,  Hallyards,  &c.  The  heir  presumptive  to  his  estates  is  hisbrotlier, 
James  Menzies  Clayhills,  Lieut.-Colonel,  late  of  the  7th  Fusiliers.  lie  was 
born  in  1831,  and  in  1861  married  Eugenia,  daughter  of  Admiral  Watts. 

Among  the  charters  at  Invergowrie  there  is  a  Crown  charter  by  King 
James  IV.,  November,  1499,  to  Richard  Barrie,  burgess  of  Dundee,  in  honour 
of  the  Blessed  Trinity  and  tlie  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  to  a  chaplain  in  the 
church  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  in  the  burgh  of  Dundee,  of  an  annual 
reddito  by  Eichard  Barrie  ;  an  offertur  to  celebrate  continually  from  the  land 
which  belonged  to  the  late  John  Barrie,  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  land  of 
Thomas  Guild,  on  the  south,  &c.,  &c.,  in  the  wa  (?  way)  Argadie  (Argyll 
Gate,  now  Overgate).  (Signed)     James  Scrymgeour,  4th  May. 

Attached  to  this  Crown  charter  is  the  Great  Seal  of  James  IV.,  the  reverse 
of  which  is  a  little  broken,  but  the  obverse  is  in  good  condition. 
Some  parts  of  the  charter  are  indistinct. 

Another,  dated  14th  May,  1550,  by  James  Scrymgeour  to  Peter  Newman. 
It  is  signed — "  James  Scrymgeour,  elder,  with  my  hand."  His  seal  is  attached. 
but  a  part  is  broken  off. 
2a 


186  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Another,  dated  15th  May,  1576,  by  Peter  Newman,  and  Marietta  Mur- 
desoun,  and  Mario  via  Neill,  her  daughter,  of  a  tenement  adjoining  Lady 
Warkworth's  stairs,  north  side  of  Argadia,  to  John  Libick.  Two  seals  are 
attached,  one  of  which  is  imperfect. 

The  mansion  house  of  Invergowrie  is  built  on  a  beautiful  rising  bank  to  the 
north  of  the  Tay,  of  the  Dundee  and  Perth  Eailway,  and  of  the  highway 
between  these  towns.  It  is  about  two  miles  to  the  west  of  Dundee.  The  period 
when  the  original  House  of  Invergowrie  was  built  is  uncertain,  but  it  must 
have  been  at  an  early  period.  Since  then  the  house  has  been  frequently  altered, 
and  frequently  added  to,  but  the  proprietors  who  made  the  alterations  and 
additions  have  had  the  good  taste  to  preserve  interesting  portions  of  the 
ancient  castle.  A  considerable  part  of  the  west  front  of  the  house,  or  castle, 
as  it  may  be  called,  the  building  being  in  the  old  baronial  style,  has  circular 
towers  surmounted  by  turrets  at  the  angles.  The  towers  form  neat  little  ante- 
rooms to  some  of  the  modern  apartments. 

The  original  portion  of  the  ground  floor  upon  which  the  modern  super- 
structure has  been  reared  consists  of  several  rooms,  each  having  stone  walls 
with  strong  stone  arching.  These  strong  rooms  were  entered  from  a  passage 
inside  the  front  wall  of  the  house,  which  is  still  to  ba  seen,  and  this  is  a  very 
interesting  portion  of  the  castle. 

The  entrance  to  the  present  mansion  is  on  the  north,  and  owing  to  the  sloi)e 
of  the  land  the  principal  floor  is  on  the  same  level  as  the  hall  door,  which  saves 
a  flight  of  steps.  The  western  and  southern  fronts  are  extensive  and  hand- 
some, and  they  command  beautiful  views  of  the  Tay  and  the  coast  of  Fife 
beyond,  the  Carse  of  Gowrie  with  the  Sidlaw  range  to  Kinnoul  Hill,  Mon- 
criefif  Hill,  and  part  of  the  Ochils.  On  the  south,  west,  and  north  of  the  house 
are  finely  shorn  lawns,  outwith  which  are  a  profusion  of  splendid  timber,  some 
of  which  have  attained  great  size.  A  little  to  the  south  of  the  mansion  are  a 
Wellingtonia,  an  Auracaria,  and  a  Deodar,  planted  about  forty  years  ago. 
They  have  grown  rapidly  in  the  rich  soil,  and  are  now  stately  trees,  perhaps 
not  surpassed  in  the  county. 

A  little  to  the  west  of  the  house  is  an  artificial  eminence  of  considerable 
circumference  and  height  covered  with  turf  of  a  rich  emerald  colour.  It  is 
not  knovvn  when,  by  whom,  or  for  what  object  it  had  been  raised,  but  as  its 
formation  must  have  been  a  laborious  work,  it  had  probably  been  erected  to 
commemorate  some  great  event  now  entirely  forgotten.  To  the  north  of  the 
house  is  a  good  garden  and  ranges  of  offices,  and  a  short  distance  to  the  north- 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  187 

east  of  these  is  the  reputed  site  of  the  old  Castle  of  Gowrie,  the  abode  of  Kings. 
It  is  near  to  the  farm  of  Menzieshill,  and  to  the  shattered  stone  already  re- 
ferred to.     A  clump  of  trees  mark  the  spot. 

The  original  builders  of  Invergowrie  House  had  been  alive  to  the  importance 
of  having  efficient  sanitary  appliances,  and  the  remains  of  the  conduits  for 
draining  off  the  refuse  water  from  the  mansion  are  yet  visible  in  the  walls  and 
about  the  buildings.  The  site  was  happily  chosen  for  a  lordly  mansion,  and 
for  beauty  of  situation  it  is  unsurpassed.  The  public  apartments  are  large  and 
lofty,  furnished  in  modern  style,  and  with  excellent  taste.  The  contrast 
between  the  modern  rooms,  and  the  old,  arched,  small,  dark  recesses  in  which 
the  early  proprietors  were  content  to  live,  is  most  marked  and  instructive. 

The  lands  of  Benvie  were  Crown  property  in  the  reign  of  David  I.  (1124- 
1153).  He  gave  the  barony  of  Benvie  to  Walter  de  Lundin.  From  him  it 
passed  to  ^ir  Philip  de  Valoniis  along  with  the  baronies  of  Balruddery  and 
Panmure,  by  gift  of  King  William  the  Lion.  Sir  PhiUp  was,  about  1180, 
appointed  by  that  Sovereign  Lord  High  Chamberlain  of  Scotland,  which 
office  he  retained  till  his  death  on  5th  November,  1215.  He  was  succeeded 
in  his  high  office  and  in  his  baronies  by  his  son.  Sir  William  Valoniis  ;  and, 
to  make  his  title  to  these  baronies  more  secure,  the  King  gave  Sir  William  a 
grant  of  them  during  the  lifetime  of  his  father.  At  his  death,  in  1219,  he  left 
a  daughter,  Christina,  sole  heiress  of  his  baronies. 

Benvie  appears  to  have  been  held  by  vassals  while  in  possession  of  the  de 
Valoniis,  who  assumed  their  surname  of  Benvie  from  their  lands,  of  whom 
were  Adam  of  Beneuile  or  Baneuy,  and  his  son  James,  who  witnessed  various 
Angus  charters  between  the  years  1211  and  1214. 

About  1224  Sir  Peter  de  Maule,  Knigiit,  married  Christina,  and  with  her  he 
got  these  baronies.  Before  her  marriage  she  gave  a  grant  of  the  lands  of 
Benvie  and  Balruddery,  with  the  patronage  of  the  Church  of  Benvie,  to  Sir 
Kalph  of  Dundee.  This  grant  was  confirmed  by  Sir  William  Maule,  son  of 
Christina,  on  12th  August,  1292. 

Sir  Ralph  did  fealty  to  Edward  I.,  and  renewed  it  for  lands  in  Perthshire, 
15th  March,  1306.  The  first  recorded  of  the  name  is  Albert  of  Dundee,  and  a 
burgess  in  Perth  called  William  of  Dundee,  but  there  is  little  known  regarding 
the  family.  Perhaps  Albert  and  Ralph  may  have  been  burgesses  of  Dundee. 
This  family  is  mentioned  Vol.  I.,  p.  3S4,  and  in  the  chapter  on  the  landward 
parish  of  Dundee,  p.  124. 


188  ANGUS  Oil  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV". 

It  appears  tliat  Ealph  liad  succeeded  bis  father  in  the  lands  of  Ben  vie, 
Balruddery,  and  others,  as  in  1325  John  of  Glaister  (the  name  the  family 
assumed  after  they  acquired  Glaister  in  Carmylie),  son  and  heir  of  the 
former  Ralph  of  Dundee,  had  a  confirmation  charter  of  these  lands  from  Sir 
Henry  Maule  of  Panmure.  In  13G8  Gilbert  of  Glassert,  with  consent  of  bis 
overlord,  resigned  the  lands  of  Benvie  in  favour  of  Alexander  Scrymgeour, 
Constable  of  Dundee.  It  was  probably  on  the  decay  of  the  Benvie  family 
that  the  lands  of  Benvie  came  into  the  hands  of  the  Constable  of  Dundee.  The 
Scrymgeours  had  intimate  relations  with  the  Maules,  and  were  powerful 
vassals  of  the  great  barons  of  Panmure. 

Gilbert  of  Glastre  or  Giaccster  and  the  Scrymgeour  family  appear  to  have 
been  connected  by  relationship  or  otherwise.  On  3d  May,  1374,  Robert  II. 
granted  charter  in  favour  of  Gilbert,  whom  failing,  to  Alexander  Scrymgeour 
of  Dundee,  of  the  lands  and  castle  of  Glacestre,  in  Argyleshire.  (His.  M. 
Com.,  5th  Rep.  p.  G13.)  The  same  Sovereign  granted  charter  to  Gilbert  de 
Glacester,  of  all  the  lands  of  Glacester,  in  vie  Ergadie,  and  all  his  lands  in 
the  shires  of  Forfar  and  Perth  ;  and  failing  of  heirs  male  of  his  own  body,  to 
Alexander  Skyrmechur.     (In.  to  Ch.,  115-3}.) 

The  lands  of  Balruddery  do  not  appear  to  have  been  given  to  the  Constable 
of  Dundee  with  those  of  Benvie,  and  their  destination  for  a  long  series  of 
years  after  they  passed  from  the  possession  of  Glassert,  in  13G8,  has  not  been 
traced.  The  next  known  proprietoi"  of  Balruddery  is  named  Lascelles,  who  was 
also  the  proprietor  of  Inverdovat,  in  Forgan  parish,  in  Fife.  On  16th  August, 
1589,  Andrew  Lascelles,  heir  of  David  Lascelles  of  Inverdovat,  his  father,  was 
retoured  (No.  570)  in  half  the  land  and  town  of  Balruddery — A.E.,  50s  ;  N.E., 
£10.  We  have  not  ascertained  when  this  family  acquired  the  half  of  Bal- 
ruddery, nor  whether  David  got  it  by  inheritance  or  purchase.  Neither  do  we 
know  who  then  possessed  the  other  half  of  the  property. 

On  28th  February,  IGOD.  Patrick  Maule,  heir  of  Patrick  Maule  of  Panmure, 
Ids  father,  was  retoured  (No.  Q5)  in  the  lands  of  Balruddery  and  of  Benvie, 
with  the  mill,  and  in  other  lands.  This  retour  was  probably  of  the  superiority 
only,  as  the  lands  had  previously  been  in  possession  of  the  family  of  Scrymgeour 
of  Dud  hope. 

On  26th  April,  1G15,  John  Scrymgeour  of  Dudhope,  heir  male  of  Sir  James 
Scrymgeour  of  Dudiiope,  Knight,  Constable  of  Dundee,  his  father,  was  retoured 
(No.  85)  in  the  lauds  of  Balruddeiy  and  Benvie,  with  advocation  of  the  church 
of  same,  in  the  barony  of  Paumure.      On  25th  April,  1643,  James,  Viscount 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PABISHES.— LIFE  &  BENVIE.  189 

of  Dudliope,  heir  male  of  John,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  his  father,  was  retoured 
(No.  280)  in  the  lands  of  Bah'uddery  and  Benvie,  with  advocation  of  the 
Church  of  Benvie,  the  hinds  of  BuUion  and  other  lands. 

On  4th  November,  1644,  John,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  was  served  heir  to  his 
father,  Viscount  James  (No.  287),  in  the  lauds  of  Balruddery  and  Benvie, 
with  advocation  of  the  church,  in  the  barony  of  Panmure,  and  in  the  lands  of 
Bulzion  or  Catermille,  in  the  barony  of  Melgund,  per  annexation. 

The  lands  of  Benvie,  which  comprised  the  whole  parisli,  were  held  by  the 
Scrymgeours  until  the  year  1 654,  when,  in  consequence  of  a  debt  of  5440 
merks,  due  by  John,  third  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  and  Earl  of  Dundee,  to  John 
Fithie,  merchant  and  burgess  of  Dundee,  the  lands  were  made  over  to  Fithie. 

After  this  the  lands  came  into  possession  of  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale. 
Ochterlony  says  the  Earl  owned  them  in  1684-5.  In  1674,  George,  Earl  of 
Panmure,  gave  Marjory  Gray,  only  child  of  Patrick,  ninth  Lord  Gray,  a  grant 
of  870  merks  out  of  the  lands  of  Benvie  and  Balruddery,  and  in  1713  her  son 
John,  Lord  Gray,  by  her  husband  John,  second  son  of  Sir  William  Gray  of 
Pittendrum,  received  charter  of  these  lands  from  James,  Earl  of  Panmure, 
and  since  then  Benvie  has  been  part  of  the  Gray  estate.  Some  time  after 
1764  Lord  Gray  sold  Balruddery  to  the  Earl  of  Strathmore.  In  1782  the 
trustees  of  the  Earl  sold  these  lands  to  Alexander  Baillie  of  Dochfour.  He 
died  23d  February,  1799,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Evan  Baillie, 
who,  in  1806,  sold  them  to  James  Webster. 

He  died  in  1827,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Kobert.  Robert  Webster 
was  born  on  17tli  October,  1802,  and  died  in  1881.  His  father,  James 
Webster,  was  an  eminent  agriculturist,  and  a  devoted  geologist.  He  collected 
a  valuable  collection  of  fossils,  the  greater  number  of  which  were  found  in  the 
Den  of  Balruddery.  They  were  removed  to  Eossie  Priory.  He  was  visited 
at  Balruddery  by  Buckland,  Murchison,  Agassiz,  and  others,  wlio  pronounced 
many  of  the  specimens  as  essentially  a  new  group. 

Piobert  sold  the  estate  of  Balruddery  iu  1849-50  to  David  Edward,  flax- 
spinner,  Dundee.  At  his  death  his  brother,  James  Edward,  acquired  the 
estate  at  the  price  of  £40,000.  He  added  the  lands  of  Pilmore  to  the  estate 
at  a  cost  of  ^£48,000,  and  died  in  1876.  His  trustees  retained  the  property  for 
some  time,  and  on  14th  October,  1879,  sold  it  to  James  F.  White,  merchant, 
Dundee  and  New  York,  for  £84,000.  These  two  properties  extend  to  1230 
acres. 

The  old  mansion  of  Balruddery,  built  by  James  Webster,  was  considered  a 


190  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

fine  house  in  its  day,  but  it  was  a  plain  square  building,  with  no  pretensions  to 
style.  When  the  present  laird  got  possession  of  Balruddery,  in  1880,  he 
commenced  extensive  alterations  and  additions,  and  it  has  now  been  made  one 
of  the  most  palatial  residences  in  the  district.  The  front  is  broken  up  by  bays, 
and  surmounted  by  a  rich  cornice  and  balustrade,  which  give  it  the  character 
of  a  stately  Italian  mansion. 

A  large  domed  conservatory  extends  to  the  west,  and  communicates  with  the 
drawing-room.  Internally  there  is  now  a  spacious  lightsome  hall,  the  public 
rooms  are  increased  in  number  and  in  size,  and  other  necessary  rooms  added. 
A  new  garden,  with  a  splendid  range  of  houses  of  approved  construction  ; 
commodious  stable  offices,  handsome  gateway  and  lodge,  have  also  been 
erected.  In  front  of  the  lawn,  and  seen  from  the  mansion,  are  three  orna- 
mental ponds,  connected  together  by  pretty  cascades.  The  mansion  stands  on 
high  ground  between  the  two  dens  of  Balruddery,  and  commands  a  most 
extensive  and  beautiful  prospect.  These  improvements  have  been  carried  out 
by  Edward  &  Robertson,  architects,  Dundee. 

The  name  Balruddery  is  derived  from  the  Gaelic,  and  signifies  the  house  of 
the  judge,  which  would  imply  that  in  ancient  times  it  had  been  the  residence 
of  one  of  the  King's  judges. 

The  lands  of  Balgay  were  anciently  a  barony,  and  previous  to  the  Reforma- 
tion the  greater  part,  if  not  the  whole  of  them,  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Scone. 
After  the  abolition  of  monastic  houses,  they  were  granted  by  James  VI.  to  the 
Earl  of  Gowrie,  and,  after  the  forfeiture  of  the  Ruthvens,  were  granted  to  Sir 
David  Murray  of  Gospetrie,  knight,  captain  in  the  King's  guard,  ancestor  of 
the  Earls  of  Mansfield.  From  him  they  passed  to  Walter-  Lindsay,  a  cadet  of 
the  Lindsays  of  Balcarras.  He  had  Mass  privately  celebrated  in  the  House  of 
Balgay  in  1594,  which  so  ofi'ended  the  General  Assembly  that  they  recommended 
him,  and  several  others,  to  be  punished  by  forfeiture  for  that  offence, 

Balgay  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  a  family  named  Hunter. 
Master  William  Hunter  of  Balgay  died  in  1662.  On  28th  October  of  that 
year  John  Hunter,  his  son  and  heir,  was  retoured  (No.  394)  in  the  lands  of 
Balgay  and  Logic,  in  the  loidship  of  Scone  ;  decimus  garbalibus  of  Balgay 
and  Logic,  in  the  united  parish  of  LifF,  Logic,  and  In  verge  wrie.  Balgay 
passed  from  the  Hunters  to  Robert  Davidson.  His  daughter  Elizabeth  was, 
on  17th  August,  1763,  married  to  James  Wedderburn  of  Blackness.  Ochter- 
lony,  1684-5,  says  Balgey,  Davidsone,  a  good  house  and  good  land. 


Chap.  XXXV,]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LIJFF  &  BENVIE.  191 

Balgay  and  Baldovan  were  acquired  by  "Walter  Tullidelph,  LL.D.,  of  Bal- 
dovan,  and  of  estates  in  Antigua,  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
At  his  death  he  left  two  daughters,  the  elder  of  whom,  Charlotte,  was  married  to 
Sir  John  Ogilvy,  Bart,  of  Inverquharity,  in  1754,  and  with  her  he  got  Baldovan. 
The  younger  sister,  Mary,  was  married  to  Lieut.-General  the  Hon.  Alexander 
Leslie,  and  with  her  he  got  the  estate  of  Balgay,  General  Leslie  does  not 
appear  to  have  retained  Balgay  long,  as  the  property  was  acquired  by  Captain 
David  Anderson,  who  had  been  in  India,  before  the  end  of  last  century.  He 
left  a  daughter  and  heiress,  who  in  1828  was  married  to  Sir  William  Scott  of 
Aucrum,  sixth  baronet.  By  her  he  had  two  sons — William,  who,  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  1871,  succeeded  to  the  estate  of  Ancrum  as  seventh 
baronet  of  Ancrum;  and  Harry  Warren,  who  succeeded  his  mother,  Lady 
Scott,  in  the  estate  of  Balgay.  He  is  also  heir  presumptive  to  his  brother,  Sir 
William. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  estate,  which  now  includes  the  greater  part  of 
Logic  and  a  small  portion  of  Blackness,  has  been  given  off  in  feus,  which  has 
largely  increased  the  value  of  the  property,  and  from  its  proximity  to  Dundee 
and  Lochee  it  is  very  probable  that  the  remainder  of  the  estate  will,  also, 
at  no  distant  period,  be  given  off  in  feus  for  building  purposes. 

We  know  nothing  of  the  old  house  of  Balgay  excepting  what  Ochterlony 
says,  but  it  had  not  been  sufficient  for  Captain  Anderson,  as  he  demolished  it 
and  erected  the  present  mansion  house.  On  the  back  of  a  copy  of  the  plan  of 
Dundee  of  1793,  which  we  have  seen,  there  was  pasted  a  list  of  the 
household  furniture  and  effects  which  belonged  to  the  Captain,  sold  by  auction 
in  Balgay  House  in  the  second  decade  of  this  century.  It  included  many 
Indian  articles. 

The  modern  Balgay  House  is  a  large  commodious  mansion,  built  in  lieu  of 
the  more  ancient  House  of  Balgay.  It  is  situated  in  a  cosy  position,  being  a 
hollow  immediately  on  the  south  side  of  Balgay  Hill— now  a  public  park  and 
a  cemetery  belonging  to  the  community  of  Dundee.  It  is  sheltered  by  wood 
and  thriving  shrubbery  from  stormy  winds,  and  it  stands  on  a  level  spot,  with 
a  fine  lawn  in  front  ornamented  with  parterres  of  flowers.  A  good  garden 
adjoins,  and  the  house  is  a  very  desirable  residence  for  a  Dundee  merchant. 
The  family  of  Ancrum,  to  whom  the  property  belongs,  seldom  reside  at 
Balgay. 

The  Scots  of  Ancrum  are  descended  from  the  historic  family  of  Balweary, 
iu  Fife.     Sir  William  Scott  of  Balweary,  married  Isabel,  daughter  of  Patrick, 


192  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

fifth  Lord  Lindsay  of  the  Byres,  and  had  issue,  two  sons — Sir  Wilham,  his 
successor ;  and  Andrew,  of  whom  the  Scots  of  Ancruni  are  lineally  descended. 

Andrew  Scott  got  from  his  father  in  patrimony  the  lands  of  Glendoick  in 
liferent.  He  purchased  the  lands  of  Kirkstyle,  and  married  Euphame,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Blair  of  Balthayock,  by  whom  he  had  a  son.  He  lived  in 
the  days  of  Queen  Mary. 

Alexander  Scott  of  Kirkstyle,  his  son,  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir 
Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartine.  Their  son  George  succeeded,  and  married 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Hugh  Moncrieff  of  Eiud.  Their  son,  Patrick  Scott, 
succeeded.  He  lived  in  the  reign  of  James  VI.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Simpson  of  Monturpie,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter 
— Sir  John,  his  heir  ;  James  and  Patrick,  without  succession  ;  Agnes,  married 
to  William  Douglas  of  Ardit,  and  was  mother  of  Sir  Robert  Douglas,  Bart,  of 
Glenbervie.  Patrick  sold  Kirkstyle,  bought  Langshaw,  and  afterwards  the 
lands  and  barony  of  Ancrum,  in  Roxburghshire,  which  has  ever  since  been  the 
chief  title  of  the  family.  He  died  in  the  reign  of.  Charles  I.  Sir  John  Scott, 
who  succeeded  his  father,  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Ancrum  in  1G70. 

He  was  by  Charles  XL  created  a  baronet  by  his  Royal  patent  to  him  and  his 
heirs  male,  in  1671.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Francis  Scott  of 
Maugerton,  by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters  ;  secondly,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  William  Bennet  of  Grubbet,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters. 
He  died  in  1712,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

Sir  Patrick,  second  baronet  of  Ancrum,  who  married  Anne,  daughter  of 
William  Wallace  of  Hillington,  but  by  her  had  no  surviving  issue  ;  secondly, 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Scott  of  Harden,  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons  and  four  daughters.  He  died  in  1734,  and  w\as  succeeded  by  Sir  John 
Scott,  his  eldest  son,  third  baronet  of  Ancrum,  who  married  Christian,  daughter 
of  William  Nisbet  of  Dirleton,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 
He  died  in  1748,  and  was  succGcded  by  his  second  son,  the  elder  having  died 
unmarried.  Sir  William  Scott,  fourth  baronet  of  Ancrum. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Sir  John  Scott,  fifth  baronet,  who  died  in  1814,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  William  Scott,  sixth  baronet.  He  was  an  officer 
jn  the  Life  Guards,  a  D.L.  and  a  Magistrate  for  Roxburghshire,  for  which 
county  he  sat  as  M.P.,  1859-70. 

The  late  Sir  William  Scott,  sixth  baronet  of  Ancrum,  Roxburghshire,  who 
died  in  1871,  married,  1828,  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heiress  of  David  Ander- 


Ohap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LIFF  &  BENYIE.  193 

son  of  Balgay.  By  her  he  had  Sir  William  Monteath  Scott,  who  succeeded 
as  seventh  baronet.  He  married,  in  1861,  Amelia  Murray,  only  surviving 
child  of  the  late  General  Sir  Thomas  Monteath-Douglas,  K.C.B.,  of  Stone- 
byres,  Lanarkshire,  and  has  surviving  issue,  Constance  Emily.  Sir  WilHam 
and  Lady  Scott  had  also  another  son,  Harry  Scott  of  Balgay,  born  in  1833, 
who,  in  1870,  married  Caroline  Louisa  Cavendish  Bentinck,  eldest  daughter 
of  Edwin  Burnaby  of  Baggrave  Hall,  Leicestershire.  He  is  heir  presumptive 
to  his  brother,  Sir  William. 
Arms — Quarterly  :  1st  and  4tli,   argent,  a  chevron  between  three  lions'  heads  gules  ;  2d 

and  3d,  or,  a  mullet  argent  on  a  pale  gules  ;  on  a  chief  azure  three  roses  proper. 
Crests — 1st,  a  lion's  head  erased  gules  ;  2d,  an  eagle's  head  erased  proper. 
Supporters — Two  greyhounds  proper,  collared  or. 
Mottoes — Over  crests  and  motto — Be  silent  and  do.       On  ribbon  over  crests — Tach  ^^,t. 

Below  the  arms — For  right  and  reason. 

A  part  of  the  lands  of  Logic  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Scone.  At  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  monasteries  they  were  granted  to  the  Earl  of  Gowrie,  then  to  Sir  David 
Murray,  then  to  John  Hunter,  being  the  same  proprietors  as  owned  Balgay. 

The  other  part  of  the  lands  and  estate  of  Logie  belonged  to  the  town  of 
Dundee,  but  when  they  were  acquired  we  do  not  know.  On  6th  December, 
1705,  the  Council  met,  and  as  they  were  pressed  for  money  by  the  town's 
creditors,  they  resolved  to  sell,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  February  thereafter,  the 
lands  of  Logie,  both  property  and  superiority.  The  lands  and  estate  were  accord- 
ingly disposed  of  to  Alexander  Wedderburn  of  Blackness,  at  the  small  price  of 
17,500  merks,  or  less  than  £900  sterling.     (Dundee  Charters,  p.  123.) 

In  the  end  of  last  century  the  lands  of  Logie  belonged  to  a  family  called 
Keid,  related  to  the  Fletchers  of  Balinsho,  and  the  Reids  formerly  of  Cairnie, 
near  Arbroath.  They  built  the  House  of  Logie.  After  the  death  of  Fletcher 
Eeid,  the  last  of  the  name  designed  of  Logie,  the  property  was  purchased  by 
Isaac  Watt,  merchant  in  Dundee.  After  his  bankruptcy,  the  house  and 
ground  were  purchased  by  Major  Fife  of  Smithfield,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
estate,  which  comprised  most  of  the  lands,  by  Mrs  Anderson  of  Balgay.  The 
Major  sold  his  portion  of  the  property  to  James  Watt,  merchant,  Dundee. 
The  property  was  recently  acquired  by  William  Cleghorn,  who  has  since  feued 
the  ground,  and  it  is  nearly  all  covered  with  buildings.  The  mansion  house 
still  remains  on  the  top  of  the  mount  with  a  little  ground,  on  which  are  some 
well  grown  trees  around  it,  but  the  surroundings  have  been  much  changed 
since  it  was  owned  by  the  Eeids. 
2b 


194  '  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

r 

The  lands  of  Blackness  were  also  church  lands  belonging  to  the  Abbey  of 
Scone.  On  13th  February,  1546-7,  Patrick,  Bishop  of  Moray  and  Com- 
mendator  of  the  Abbey  of  Scone,  gave  the  lands  of  Blackness,  Dryburgh,  and 
Baledgarno,  in  Inchture  parish,  to  the  Lady  of  John  Erskine  of  Dun  in  life- 
rent. At  same  time  he  gave  her  husband  a  lease  of  the  Abbey  of  Scone  for 
nineteen  years.  (His.  Man.  Com.,  5  Rep.,  p.  640.)  The  lands  were  afterwards 
divided  into  pendicles  owned  by  various  persons,  as  were  several  other  lauds  in 
the  parish.  In  the  latter  half  of  the  sixteenth  century  they  were  acquired  by 
Captain  Henry  Lyell,  but  in  what  manner  we  have  not  learned.  He  may  have 
purchased  them  after  the  death  of  the  Lady  of  Dun.  He  was  a  wealthy 
person,  and  contributed  largely  towards  the  expense  of  roofing  the  South  and 
North  Churches  of  Dundee  in  1588.  They  had  been  destroyed  by  the  English 
when  they  burned  the  town  in  1547. 

The  details  of  the  following  extracts,  from  Inq-Spec.  For.  and  other  sources 
wiU  show  the  proprietary  progress  of  the  properties,  as  it  would  occupy  too 
much  space  to  give  each  property  separately. 

On  23d  December,  1634,  Patrick  Yeaman,  son  of  John  Yeaman  of  Dryburgh, 
was  served  heir  (No.  227)  to  his  father  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Dryburgh, 
in  the  lordship  of  Scone — E.,  £12  10s  ;  eighth  part  and  sixth  part  of  the  town 
and  land  of  Blackness — E.,  48s  lOd  ;  the  teinds  of  Dryburgh  and  Blackness— 
A.E.,  3s  4d  ;  N.E.,  13s  4d ;  the  lands  of  Pitalpin— E.,  £12  10s. 

On  18th  May,  1642,  James,  Earl  of  Annandale,  heir  of  Viscount  Stormonth, 
his  relative,  was  retoured  (No.  268)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Dryburgh  ; 
David,  Viscount  Stormonth,  was  retoured  (No.  387)  in  same  lands  on  25th 
April,  1662  ;  and  on  7th  October,  1668,  David,  Viscount  Stormonth,  was  re- 
toured (No.  435)  in  the  same  lands.  These  three  retours  were  probably  of 
the  superiorities  of  the  lands,  and  not  of  the  ownership  of  them. 

On  7th  May,  1678,  Patrick  Yeaman  of  Dryburgh,  heir  of  Master  Patrick 
Yeaman  of  Dryburgh,  his  father,  was  retoured  (Xo.  473)  in  the  town  and 
lands  of  Easter  Gourdies,  Denmill,  Dryburgh,  and  Pitalpin,  each  £12  10s 
feudifirmse. 

On  12th  May,  1640,  Donald  Thornton  of  Blackness,  heir  of  his  father, 
Alexander  Thornton  of  Blackness,  was  retoured  (No.  255)  in  a  fourth  part  of 
the  town  and  lands  of  Blackness  ;  in  a  sixth  part  of  an  eighth  part  of  the 
same,  and  the  teinds,  E.,  £4  lis  8d  ;  teinds— A.E.,  5s  ;  N.E.,  '20s. 

On  20th  August,  same  year,  Donald  Thornton,  son  of  Alexander  Thornton 
of  Blackness,  was  served  heir  to  him  in  the  lauds  of  Fofarty,  with  the  teiud 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LIFF  &  BEN  VIE.  195 

sheaves  and  vicarage  teinds,  in  the  diocese  of  Dankeld,  E.,  £12  of  feu  farm 
duty.     This  no  doubt  refers  to  Fofarty,  in  the  parish  of  Kinnettles. 

On  4th  May,  1647,  James  Boyter  of  Nether  Liff,  heir  of  James  Boyter, 
senior,  Bailie  of  Dundee,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  294)  in  two  eighth 
parts  and  one  sixth  part  of  the  lands  and  town  of  Blackness — E.,  48s  lOd  ;  the 
teinds  of  same,  A.E.,  2s  6d;  N.E.,  10s. 

On  18th  February,  1648,  Sir  William  Auchinleck  of  Balmanno,  knight, 
heir  of  Master  Archibald  Auchinleck,  portioner  of  Blackness,  his  brother,  was 
retoured  (No.  299)  in  the  eighth  part  and  the  sixth  part  of  the  land  and  town 
of  Blackness,  and  the  teinds  valuations  as  in  retour  No.  294  above. 

While  the  lands  or  part  of  them  were  divided  into  small  portions,  the  great 
part  of  them  had  been  purchased  by  the  family  of  VVedderburn,  and  they  may 
subsequently  have  acquired  the  whole  estate.  As  this  family  were  prominent 
burgesses  of  Dundee,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  management  of  its  affairs 
for  several  generations,  we  will  here  give  a  short  account  of  the  Blackness 
branch  of  the  Wedderburns. 

Alexander  Wedderburn,  son  of  James,  purchased  the  estate  of  Blackness,  the 
charter  of  which,  underthe  Great  Seal,  is  dated  15th  July,  1612.  It  was  probably 
purchased  with  money  belonging  to  James,  his  nephew.  The  lands  appear  to 
have  come  into  possession  of  Alexander,  second  of  Kingennie,  who  resigned 
them  in  favour  of  his  cousin,  Alexander,  afterwards  Sir  Alexander,  the  eldest 
son  of  his  uncle  James,  upon  a  narrative  of  an  obligation  to  that  effect.  He 
was  thus  the  third  Wedderburn  proprietor  of  Blackness.  He  was  born  on  2d 
March,  1610,  and  bred  to  the  law.  Upon  the  death  of  his  cousin  of  Kingennie, 
whose  son  was  then  a  minor,  he  was  appointed  Town  Clerk  of  Dundee  in  1627, 
though  young  himself,  being  only  in  his  seventeenth  year.  He  attended  care- 
fully to  the  duties  of  his  office,  gained  the  confidence  of  the  Magistrates  and 
Council,  and  was  entrusted  with  the  sole  management  of  the  town  s  affairs,  as 
his  uncle  had  been. 

He  got  a  tack  of  the  customs  of  Dundee  from  Charles  I.  in  1639,  and  next 
year  His  Majesty  granted  him  a  yearly  pension  of  £100  sterling  out  of  said 
customs  for  life.  He  was  much  attached  to  the  Royal  family,  and  in  1640 
was  appointed  one  of  the  Committee  of  Parliament,  He  had  other  public 
oflQ.ces  conferred  upon  him.  In  1642  he  had  the  honour  of  knighthood  be- 
stowed on  him.  For  his  loyalty  to  the  Royal  family,  he  was  much  harassed 
during  the  Protectorate,  but  after  the  Restoration  he  had  public  offices  be- 
stowed upon  him.      In  reward  for  his  constant  fidelity,  Charles  II.  made  him 


196  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Pap.t  XIV- 

a  grant  under  tlie  Great  Seal  of  one  hundred  pounds  sterling  yearly  during  all 
the  days  of  his  life.     The  writ  is  dated  J  0th  February,  1664-. 

Sir  Alexander  married  Matilda,  a  daughter  of  Fletcher  of  InverpefFer,  born 
in  March,  1620,  and  by  her  had  ten  sons  and  six  daughters — John,  his  heir  ; 
James,  who  carried  on  the  line  of  the  family  ;  Peter,  George,  and  Alexander, 
who  all  married  and  had  issue ;  Margaret,  married  to  Patrick  Kyd  of  Craigie  ; 
Jean,  to  William  Kyd  of  Woodhill ;  Helen,  to  David  Dickson  of  Hartra,  a 
Senator  of  the  College  of  Justice  ;  Grisel,  to  Alexander  Wedderburn  of  Kiu- 
gennie  ;  Cecilia,  to  William  Bailie  of  Littlegil ;  and  Matilda,  to  James  Bris- 
bane, advocate,  of  Bullion.     Sir  Alexander  died  18th  November,  1676. 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  surviving  son.  Sir  John  Wedderburn,  Bart,  of 
Blackness,  who,  in  his  father's  lifetime,  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal, 
to  John  Wedderburn,  apparent  of  Blackness,  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Black- 
ness, dated  2d  October,  1668.  He  was  trained  to  the  law,  entered  advocate, 
and  became  Clerk  to  the  Bills,  by  commission  from  Sir  George  M'Kenzie  of 
Eosehaugh,  Lord  Register.  In  1667  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  David 
Dunsmuir,  advocate,  by  whom  he  had  issue,  sons  and  daughters — Alexander, 
his  heir ;  David,  who  entered  the  army  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Major,  married 
a  niece  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  but  was  killed  at  the  Siege  of  Doway,  in 
1710,  without  issue.  The  other  sons  died  young.  Margaret,  married  to 
Andrew  Balfour,  W.S  ,  by  whom  she  had  a  daughter,  Margaret,  married  to 
Dr  John  Wedderburn ;  secondly,  to  Dr  William  Eccles,  physician,  to  whom 
she  had  a  son  and  daughter ;  Matilda,  married  to  Dr  David  Campbell  of 
Keithick,  Chaplain  to  Greenwich  Hospital.  The  other  two  daughters  died 
young.  Sir  John  died  before  1707.  He  was  created  a  baronet  of  Scotland  by 
Queen  Anne,  dated  at  Windsor  Castle,  9th  August,  1704,  by  patent  to  him  and 
his  heirs  male. 

Sir  Alexander  Wedderburn,  Bart,  of  Blackness,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded 
to  Blackness.  He  married  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander 
Seton  of  Pitmedden,  Bart.,  a  Senator  of  the  College  of  Justice,  by  whom 
lie  had  John,  his  heir,  and  a  daughter,  Rachel.  He  died  in  1713.  Sir 
John  Wedderburn  of  Blackness  succeeded  his  father.  Sir  John's  estate 
being  greatly  encumbered,  he  sold  it  before  1722  to  his  cousin  and  heir  male, 
Alexander  Wedderburn,  who  succeeded  to  his  honours.  Sir  John  afterwards 
went  over  to  Ireland,  Avhere  lie  died  unmarried  in  1722,  which  ended  the  male 
line  of  John,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Alexander  of  Blackness.  The  representation  of 
the  family  therefore  devolved  upon  the  issue  male  of  James,  the  sixth,  but 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  197 

second  surviving,  son  of  Sir  Alexander.  James,  born  8th  November,  1649, 
was  Town  Clerk  of  Dundee.  On  17th  August,  1673,  he  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Robert  Davidson  of  Balgay,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons 
and  three  daughters : — Alexander,  afterwards  Sir  Alexander  of  Blackness  ; 
Dr  John,  physician  in  Dundee,  who  married  his  cousin,  Margaret  Balfour, 
granddaughter  of  Sir  John,  who  died  before  1707.  He  died  on  3d 
July,  1751,  without  issue,  leaving  his  lauded  property  to  his  grand- 
nephew,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  John,  with  provisions  to  the  younger 
children.  Margaret,  married  to  John  Paterson  of  Craigie,  Perthshire, 
by  whom  she  had  a  son,  James  Paterson  of  Carpow ;  Grisol,  to  Thomas 
Watson  of  Grange  of  Barrie,  and  had  issue ;  and  Matilda,  who  died 
unmarried.  James  died  in  1696,  and  was  succeeded  by  Sir  Alexander 
Wedderburn,  Baronet  of  Blackness,  his  eldest  son,  who  purchased  the  estate  of 
Blackness  from  his  cousin,  Sir  John,  as  before  observed,  was  born  4th  Novem- 
ber, 1675,  and  succeeding  to  his  honours  as  heir  male  on  his  death  in  1722,  was 
second  baronet  of  Blackness.  He  married  Katherine,  youngest  daughter  of  John 
Scott,  merchant  in  Dundee,  by  whom  he  had  eight  sons  and  seven  daughters 
— four  of  whom  died  in  infancy — Sir  John,  his  heir;  Robert,  who  married 
Isabella  Edward,  heiress  of  the  barony  of  Pearsie,  in  the  parish  of  Kingoldrum, 
by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters — Thomas,  who  settled  in 
Nairnshire,  and  married  Katherine,  daughter  of  Eobert  Dunbar  of  Grange- 
hill,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  other  sons  died  in 
infancy  or  unmarried ;  Elizabeth,  born  25th  October,  1699,  married  to 
Alexander  Eeid  of  Torbeg,  and  had  a  numerous  family,  one  of  whom.  Miss 
Reid,  was  painter  to  the  Queen  at  London  ;  Grisel,  born  26th  July,  1706, 
married  to  James  Graham  of  Meathie ;  Catherine,  born  19th  January,  1715, 
married,  in  August,  1739,  to  David  Scrymgeour  of  Birkhill,  to  whom  she  had 
four  sons  and  a  daughter.  Sir  Alexander  died  in  1741,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  eldest  son.  Sir  John  Wedderburn,  third  baronet  of  Blackness,  born  4th 
August,  1704.  He  married,  on  22d  October,  1724,  Jean,  eldest  daughter  of 
John  Fullerton  of  that  ilk,  by  Margaret  Carnegie,  only  sister  of  John  Carnegie 
of  Boysack,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  four  daughters — Sir  John,  his 
heir  ;  James,  a  physician,  and  Peter  went  to  Jamaica  ;  Alexander  and  David 
died  without  succession,  the  other  two  in  infancy  ;  Margaret,  married  to 
Eichard  Dundas  of  Blair,  and  had  issue  ;  Katherine,  Susan,  and  Agatha, 
married  to  John  Smith,  writer  in  Edinburgh,  son  of  James  Smith  of  Bal- 
harry. 


198  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIIIE.  [Part  XIV. 

Sir  John  Wedderburn  took  part  in  the  Kebellion  of  1745,  having 
served  as  a  volunteer  in  David,  Lord  Ogilvy's  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  was 
present  at  the  Battle  of  Gladsmuir  or  Prestonpans.  He  rejoined  the  army  of 
Prince  Charles  on  its  retreat  northward,  and  was  at  Falkirk  and  Culloden. 
On  16th  April,  1746,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  sent  to  London.  He  was  con- 
fined in  the  new  jail  of  Southwark,  tried  at  the  Court  of  St  Margaret's  Hill  on 
4th  November,  convicted  of  high  treason  and  rebellion  against  the  existing 
Government,  sentenced  to  death,  and,  together  with  the  Rev.  Andrew  Wood, 
John  Hamilton,  James  Bradshaw,  and  Alexander  Leith,  was  hanged  on 
Kennington  Common  on  Friday,  28th  November,  1746.  His  property  was 
confiscated  and  sold,  and  his  baronetcy  forfeited.  Colonel  Farquharson  was 
condemned  along  with  these  other  gentlemen,  but  he  was  reprieved.  Sir  John 
Wedderburn,  his  son,  notwithstanding  the  forfeiture,  continued  to  assume  the 
title.  He  was  born  on  21st  February,  1729,  and  served  with  his  father  in 
Lord  Ogilvy's  regiment,  carrying  the  colours  of  the  Glen  Prosen  company, 
who  were  raised  by  his  uncle,  Robert  Wedderburn  of  Pearsie,  and  named  from 
the  beautiful  glen  in  which  that  picturesque  estate  is  situated.  He  advanced 
with  the  Prince's  army  to  Derby,  and  was  in  the  disastrous  defeat  at  Culloden, 
from  which  he  escaped  and  sought  protection  in  Angus. 

Pearsie's  interest  with  the  Earl  of  Airlie  had  obtained  the  parish  of  Glenisla 
for  the  Rev.  Mr  M'Arthur.  This  gentleman  received  Sir  John  into  his  house, 
conveyed  him  in  the  disguise  of  his  servant  into  Edinburgh,  where  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Kirk  was  then  sitting,  and  concealed  hira  until  December, 
1746,  when  he  sailed  from  Leith  to  London,  and  thence  to  Jamaica. 

The  estate  of  Idvies,  which  devolved  to  Mm  on  the  death  of  his  grand-uncle, 
Dr  John  Wedderburn,  on  3d  July,  1751,  was  soon  thereafter  sold  to  Lord 
Kinnaird.  Sir  John  revisited  Scotland  in  1765,  returned  to  Jamaica,  and 
finally  came  back  to  Scotland  in  1769,  when  he  purchased  the  property  of 
Ballindean,  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie.  He  married  Margaret  Ogilvy,  commonly 
called  Lady  Margaret  Ogilvy,  eldest  daughter  of  David,  Lord  Ogilvy,  by 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Johnstone,  Baronet  of  Westerhall.  By  her 
ladyship,  who  was  born  in  1748,  and  died  on  23d  March,  1775,  Sir  John  had 
issue  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  viz. — John,  who  died  in  1783  ;  Sir  David 
Wedderburn,  Baronet  of  Ballindean,  on  whom  the  title  was  reconferred  in 
1803;  Margaret  was  married  to  Philip  Dundas,  Governor  of  Prince  of  Wales' 
Island,  fourth  son  of  Robert  Dundas  of  Arniston,  M.P.,  Lord  President  of  the 
Court  of  Session,  and  nephew  to  Henry,  first  Viscount  Melville,  and  left  issue 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LIFE  &  BENYIE.  199 

at  her  death  in  1807,  two  sons,  Kobert  and  William  ;  Jean  was  married  to 
John  Hope  Oliphant,  son  of  Oliphant  of  Eossie,  and  had  to  him  a  daughter, 
Jean. 

Sir  John  married,  secondly,  Alicia,  second  daughter  of  Colonel  James 
Dundas  of  Dundas,  by  Jean  Maria,  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Forbes,  and  by 
her  had  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  James  died  unmarried,  in 
1815  ;  John,  born  1st  May,  1789,  entered  the  service  of  the  East  India  rom- 
pany,  and  filled  various  situations  in  India  ;  Alexander,  born  18th  June,  1791, 
entered  the  army  and  rose  to  be  Colonel  in  the  Guards  ;  Mary  and  Susan ; 
Louisa  Dorothea  was  married  to  General  Sir  John  Hope,  who  succeeded  to 
the  Earldom  of  Hopetoun,  to  whom  she  had  John,  who  succeeded  to  the  Earl- 
dom, and  other  children  ;  Anne,  united  to  Sir  John  Hope  of  Craigie  Hall  and 
Pinkie,  Baronet,  and  had  issue. 

Sir  David  Wedderburn,  Baronet,  born  in  March,  1775,  succeeded  his  father, 
Sir  John,  on  13th  June,  1803,  and  was  created  anew  a  baronet  of  England,  by 
patent,  dated  18th  August,  1803.  He  married,  3d  September,  1800,  Margaret, 
daughter  of  George  Brown  of  Illerton,  Roxburghshire,  and  by  her  had  issue. 
Sir  David  filled  many  important  offices,  but  the  family  having  long  ceased  to 
have  any  direct  interest  in  Angus,  it  is  unnecessary  to  continue  the  narrative 
further. 

ABMORIAL  BEARINGS  OF  WEDDERBURN  OF  BLACKNESS. 

Arms — Argent,  a  clievron  between  three  roses,  gules,  barbed  vert.     On  a  crescent  of  the 

second,  a  label  of  the  first. 

The  badge  of  Ulster— gules,  an  hand  coupit  at  the  wrist. 
Crest — On  a  wreath  of  his  colours,  surmounting  an  helmet  of  his  degree,  an  eagle's  head 

erased  proper. 
Supporters — Two  griffins  proper. 
Motto — On  an  escrol  beneath  the  shield  these  words — Aquila  non  capitat  muscas  (the 

eagle  does  not  catch  flies). 

The  badge  of  Nova  Scotia  has  been  disused  since  the  forfeiture  of  Sir  John  in  1746. 

The  Hunters  are  a  family  of  considerable  antiquity  in  the  county,  and  their 
names  appear  in  the  rolls  of  the  Scottish  Parliament.  The  great-grandmother 
of  the  late  proprietor  of  the  lands  of  Blackness  on  the  male  side  was  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Graham  of  Fintry  and  Anne  Moray  of  Abercairney.  His 
great-grandmother  on  the  female  side  was  Helen,  niece  of  the  first  Earl  of 
Hyndford,  married  to  John  Gibson  of  Durie,  a  family  of  great  antiquity,  now 
represented  by  Sir  Thomas  Gibson  Carmichael  of  Castle  Craig,  Baronet.    The 


200  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIHE.     "  [Part  'XIY. 

property  of  Blackness  appears  to  have  been  acquired  by  the  family  of  Hunter 
shortly  after  the  middle  of  last  century.  David  Hunter,  who  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Gibson  of  Durie,  is  designed  of  Hackness.  He 
was  succeeded  in  the  barony  by  his  son  and  heir,  Alexander  Gibson  Hunter 
of  Eskmount  and  of  Blackness.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Gibson  of 
Clifton  Hall.  On  his  death  the  estate  came  into  possession  of  his  son,  David 
Hunter  of  Blackness.  Some  years  ago  he  married  and  went  to  St  Andrews  to 
reside,  then  to  Portobello,  where  he  died  on  13th  January,  1882,  aged.80  years, 
and  the  property  now  belongs  to  trustees  for  behoof  of  his  family. 

The  mansion  house  of  Blackness  is  an  old  and  old-fashioned  building.  The 
grounds  around  are  tastefully  laid  out,  and  many  fine  old  trees  adorn  the  policies. 
A  large  part  of  the  estate  has  been  feued  and  built  upon,  which  has  injured  the 
amenity  of  the  grouilds,  but  added  greatly  to  the  income  derived  from  the  land. 

The  mansion  of  Camperdown  is  in  the  Grecian  style  of  architecture,  having 
a  lofty  portico,  supported  by  fluted  Ionic  columns  of  large  size  on  the  eastern, 
which  is  the  principal  front,  and  has  a  noble  appearance.  It  is  built  of  fine 
white  sandstone  from  Fife,  which  makes  the  building  look  clean  and  beautiful. 
Although  the  house  has  been  occupied  for  half  a  century  it  appears  as  if  it  had 
been  newly  erected. 

The  interior  of  the  mansion  is  quite  in  keeping  with  the  magnificent  yet 
very  chaste  exterior.  The  apartments  are  large,  lofty,  and  extremely  hand- 
some, tlie  furniture  massive  and  rich,  and  the  fittings  gorgeous.  In  the  grand 
staircase  there  is  a  magnificent  painting  of  the  Battle  of  Camperdown,  by  Sir 
John  Copley.  It  is  of  great  size,  and  a  masterpiece  of  high  art,  upon  which 
one  never  tires  to  look.  ,  • 

Previous  to  the  erection  of  Camperdown  House  the  family  residence  was 
Lundie  House,  a  plain  old  building  which  stood  near  the  west  side  of  the  park, 
but  was  demolished  and  wholly  removed  after  the  family  took  up  their 
residence  in  the  new  mansion. 

The  splendid  and  spacious  mansion  of  Camperdown  is  situated  in  a  large 
and  beautiful  park,  which  descends  from  the  house  with  a  gentle  declivity  to 
the  south,  and  rises  on  the  north  with  a  gradual  slope  to  the  highway 
between  Dundee  and  Strathmore.  It  is  surrounded  with  lawns  finely  kept, 
which  look  like  ricli  carpets  of  emerald  hue  ;  and  plantations  of  thriving  wood 
are  so  placed  as  to  give  variety  to,  and  increase  the  charms  of  the  very  beauti- 
ful and  noble  domain.      These  belts  of  wood  have  been  planted  at  different 


Chap.* XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LTFF  &  BENVIE.  201 

periods,^  and  they  contain  trees  of  many  sorts,  some  of  wliicli  have  attained  a 
goodly  size.  On  the  .lawns  and  other  open  spaces  into  which  the  spacious 
park  is  divided  there  are  many  single  trees,  and  some  in  pairs,  which  are 
splendid  specimens  of  arboriculture,  and  noble  monarchs  of  the  wood. 

The  gardens  are  at  a  little  distance  to  the  south  of  the  mansion.  They  are 
tastefully  laid  out,  well  stocked  with  beautiful  flowers  and  shrubs,  and  con- 
tain conservatories,  vineries,  peach-houses,  &c.,  each  richly  stored  wdth  the 
plants  to  the  growth  of  which  it  is  devoted. 

To  the  south  of  the  gardens  is  d  spacious  walk,  bordered  with  broad  terraced 
lawns.  Here  there  are  some  fine  specimens  of  the  newer  varieties  of  American, 
Indian,  and  other  trees,  introduced  into  the  country  during  the  past  half  century ; 
and  here  are  some  memorial  trees,  planted  by  former  members  of  the  noble  family 
of  Duncan,  and  others,  in  memory  of  some  of  their  dep^iicd  friends.  The 
soil  here  is  very  rich,  and  these  trees  have  grown  vigorously. 

There  are  so  many  large  and  beautiful  trees  within  the  domain  that  we  have 
not  room  to  particularise  them,  but  we  must  specially  refer  to  one  tree  which 
has  obtained  a  name  and  fame.  It  is  the  Gamperdown  Elm  ;  a  weeping  elm 
which  is  now  the  parent  of  many  off'-shoots  growing  in  Scotland  and  in  other 
countries. .  There  is  nothing  known  about  the  tree,  only  that  it  was  among  the 
trees  got  for  planting  in  the  grounds,  and  no  other  tree  of  the  kind,  excepting 
the  grafts  from  it,  is  known.  This  tree  is  "growing  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
garden,  surrounded  by  lofty  trees.  *It  is  only  five  or  six  feet  in  height,  and, 
looked  at  fi'om  a  little  distance,  it  appears  like  a  large  open  umbrella,  the 
short  and  not  very  thick  stem  throwing  off  drooping  branches  all  round,  the 
points  of  which  reach  to  within  a  couple  of  feet  of  the  ground. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  House- of  Gamperdown  is  set  up  the  huge 
red  lion  rampant,  which  adorned  the  prow  of  the  flagship  of  Admiral  de 
Winter,  who  commanded  the  Dutch  fleet  in  the  memorable  Battle  of  Camper- 
dosvn,  12th  October,  1797.  The  figure  was  brought  from  Sheernessto  Dundee 
by  the  Deptford  tender,  on  9th  November,  1799.  This  trophy  of  the  prowess 
of  the  brave  Admiral  Lord  Duncan  is  now  covered  to  protect  it  from  the 
weather,  but- it  can  still  be  well  seen,  and  it  is  an  interesting  memorial  of  the 
battle.  We  have  given  an  account  of  the  noble  family  of  Duncan,  Earls  of 
Gamperdown;  in  Vol.  I.,  pp.  436--442. 

The  lands  of  Dryburgh,  Pitalpin,  and  Gourdie  also  belonged  to  the  Abbey 

of  Scone,  and  after  the  dissolution  of  monastic  houses  James  VI.  gave  them,  as 
2c 


202  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

he  gave  other  lands  in  the  parish,  to  the  Earl  of  Gowrie.  After  his  forfeiture,  in 
1602,  the  King  gave  them  to  Sir  David  Murray,  who  on  7th  April,  1604,  was 
created  Lord  Scone.  They  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  the  family  of 
Yeaman.  They  were  the  proprietors  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
The  daughter  of  the  laird  married  Wm.  Eait,  minister  of  Monikie,  and 
laird  of  Pitforthie,  about  that  time.  Patrick  Yeaman,  the  laird  in  1679,  was 
a  merchant  in,  and  one  of  the  Magistrates  of  Dundee.  They  owned  the  estate 
in  Ochterlony's  time,  1684-5.  The  family  had  probably  declined  thereafter. 
Alexander  Graham  of  Balmuir  appears  to  have  had  a  bond  for  £10,000  Scots 
upon  Dryburgh  and  Middle  Gourdie.  At  Martinmas,  1692,  eight  years' 
interest  preceding  that  date,  was  due  on  the  bond.  At  and  preceding  the 
end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  estate  of  Dryburgh  was  an  extensive  pro- 
perty. In  the  valuation  of  1683  the  yearly  value  of  Dryburgh  was  £1150.  It 
then  included,  in  addition  to  the  lands  mentioned  above,  the  splendid  demesne 
of  Camperdown  and  others. 

On  16th  June,  1767,  Dryburgh  was  sub-divided,  and  the  different  portions 
were  acquired  by  members  of  the  family  of  Duncan,  but  subsequently  the 
wdiole  of  Dryburgh  under  different  names,  excepting  Gourdie,  came  into  pos- 
session of  Lord  Duncan,  and  they  continue  in  the  Earl  of  Camperdown. 

The  lands  which  for  a  long  period  have  been  called  Bullion,  lying  in  the 
barony  of  Melgund,  were  previously  known  as  Bulzeon  and  Katermaylen  or 
Catermille,  the  latter  name  being  supposed  to  he  derived  from  quatuor  mille, 
signifying  four  thousand,  from  the  Roman  camp  which  was  constructed  there 
by  that  people  during  their  occupancy  of  this  part  of  the  country,  to  hold  that 
number  of  soldiers.  Eodulph  Kethermalyn  possessed  these  lands  at  an  early 
period,  but  the  date  is  unknown.  Among  the  old  writs  of  these  properties  in 
the  Lauderdale  charter  room  is  a  confirmation  by  Laurence  de  Karramund  to 
Eodulphus  of  Donde,  of  a  donation  by  the  son  of  William  Chaunturel,  to 
Rodulph  of  Kethermalyn,  of  the  tenement  of  Melgund,  without  date.  On  23d 
August,  1292,  Ralph  of  Dundee  got  charter  of  Benvie  and  Bah'uddery  from 
Sir  William  Maule,  so  that  the  donation  must  have  been  made  prior  to  that 
date.  It  is  probable  that  Ralph  of  Dundee  acquired  these  lands,  or  at  least  a 
part  of  them  ;  that  they  passed  to  John  of  Glaister,  his  son  ;  and  that  they 
were  disposed  of  by  that  family  to  Alexander  Scrymgeour,  along  with  the 
lands  of  Benvie  and  others,  in  1368.  On  7th  April,  1447,  Margaret  Mortimer, 
relict  of  Robert  Ross  of  Tarbet  (who  probably  was  a  daughter  of  Roger  de 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGUS  IN"  PARISHES.— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  203 

Mortimer,  Lord  of  Fowlisj,  granted  instruraent  ad  remanentiam  of  her  fourth 
part  of  the  lands  of  Katernaalyn  in  the  hands  of  John  Scrimzeour  of  Dudhope. 
Among  the  Lauderdale  papers  is  precept  of  clare  constat  by  James  Cramond 
of  Aldbar  for  infefting  John  Scrimzeour  of  Dudhope  in  the  lands  of  Bulzeon 
alias  Katermalyn  and  mill  thereof,  lying  in  the  barony  of  Melgund  and  shire 
of  Forfar,  dated  24th  February,  1553.  The  Cramonds  of  Aldbar  and  Melgund 
had  got  Bullion  included  in  their  barony  of  jMelgund. 

The  lands  of  Bullion  continued  in  the  Scrymgeours  for  many  years,  but  they 
were  broken  up  into  sections.  Patrick,  Lord  Glamis,  had  acquired  a  fourth 
part  of  the  lands  in  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  John,  Earl 
of  Kinghorne,  his  son,  succeeded  to  Bullion  on  30th  April,  1617.  They  con- 
tinued in  the  family  for  a  long  period.  In  1754  the  lands  were  divided 
between  the  then  proprietors.  The  Earl  of  Strathmore  had  one  fourth  part, 
and  Wedderburn  of  that"  ilk,  &c.,  three  fourths  of  Bullion. 

In  1680  or  thereby,  James  Brisbane  owned  part  of  Bullion,  and  David 
Brisbane  succeeded,  and  died  15th  June,  1752.  They  were  of  an  old  family 
in  Angus  (Wed.  Gen.,  p.  112).  On  25th  April,  1643,  James,  Viscount 
Dudhope,  succeeded  to  Bullion  on  the  death  of  his  father  (Ret.  280).  On 
12th  May,  1663,  George,  Earl  of  Panmure,  succeeded  his  father,  Earl  Patrick, 
in  the  lands  of  Bullion.  The  Grays  of  J^auriston  owned  the  property.  It  was 
acquired  by  James  Gray,  and  on  24th  August,  1694,  Master  John  Gray,  heir 
of  his  father,  James,  succeeded  to  the  lands  of  Bulzeon  or  Catermille,  E.  10s 
feudifirmas  (Ret.  529)  ;  also  in  that  part  of  the  lands  of  Bulzeone,  commonly 
called  fourth  part  lands,  formerly  in  the  barony  of  Auldbar,  now  annexed  to  the 
barony  of  Lyon,  E.  20s  feudifirmse. 

After  the  division  referred  to  above,  the  Earl  of  Strathmore's  portion  was 
bought  by  Thomas  Milne  of  Milnefield,  and  the  superiority  now  belongs  to 
"William  Wighton  of  Milnefield.  It  now  consists  of  Bullionfield  Works  and 
some  lands  around  it,  of  which  David  Matthew  Watson  is  proprietor.  The 
other  portion  is  Bullion  Farm,  and  it  is  still  owned  bj  the  descendant  of 
Wedderburn  of  that  ilk,  viz. — Henry  Scrymgeour  Wedderburn  of  Wedder- 
burn and  Birkhill. 

We  have  given  above  the  proprietary  history  of  Benvie,  which  forms  part  of 
the  Gray  estate.  Sir  Andrew  de  Gray,  who  was  a  faithful  adherent  of  Robert 
the  First,  received  large  grants  of  land  from  that  King,  including  Longforgan, 
Craigie,  and  others,  and  probably  part  of  the  present  estate  was  included  iu 
the  grant,  which  was  dated  at  Arbroath,  12th  February,  1315.       The  Fowlis 


204  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Easter  estate  came  into  the  family  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Andrew  Gray  with 
Janet,  daughter  of  Sir  Eoger  de  Mortimer,  but  some  accounts  give  the  Grays 
an  earlier  proprietary  interest  in  these  lands. 

Part  of  the  Gray  estate  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Scone.  In  the  Valuation 
Eoll  of  1683  there  is  entered,  in  name  of  "  Viscount  Stormonth,"  lands  valued 
at  £500.  In  recent  valuations  these  lands  are  said  to  be  feus,  belonging  to 
Lord  Gray,  now  to  Edmund  Archibald  Stuart  Gray  of  Gray.  Nether  Lifif 
was  in  possession  of  the  family  of  Gray  for  a  long  period  prior  to  1683.  It  was 
then  valued  at  £263  13s  4d.  Other  lands  which  were  then  called  "  Provost 
V^atson/'  £160 ;  "  Walter  Thomson,"  £80  ;  "  John  Mitchell,"  £40  ;  "  Edward 
Montague,"  £40,  were  subsequently  acquired  by  Lord  Gray,  and  are  now  in 
eluded  in  the  estate.  V^e  do  not  know  the  present  name  of  these  lands,  but 
they  must  have  been  extensive,  £320  being  a  large  sum  at  that  time.  Easter 
Liff  belonged  to  John  Carnegie  of  Seaton  in  1598.  His  son,  Robert,  was 
designed  of  Ballinbreich,  and  died  without  male  issue  in  1593.  (H.  of  C.  of  S., 
p.  48.) 

Gray  House  is  a  noble  mansion,  situated  on  a  beautiful  plateau,  within  a 
spacious  park  near  the  south-western  borders  of  the  county.  The  plateau  is 
elevated  a  little  above  the  flat  fields  which  extend  to  some  distance  south  from 
the  demesne.  To  the  north  of  the  messuage  the  park  rises  gently  for  some 
distance  ;  thereafter  the  bank  ascends  more  rapidly  up  to  the  Church  of  Liif, 
which  may  be  said  to  be  within  the  policies  of  Gray. 

Along  the  south  side  of  the  park  there  is  a  grand  avenue,  with  very  large 
trees  on  each  side,  extending  in  a  straight  line  from  the  eastern  entry  to  the 
policies,  onward  to  the  village  of  Benvie,  being  a  mile  in  length.  In  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  mansion  the  grounds  are  tastefully  laid  out,  and  they 
contain  a  fine  garden,  lawn  in  front  of  the  house,  and  tennis  lawn  to  the  east 
of  it.  They  are  rich  in  well  grown  shrubbery,  and  in  uncommonly  large  trees,  of 
many  hardwooded  sorts.  Near  the  front  of  the  messuage  there  are  two  Cedars 
of  Lebanon  of  immense  size,  the  solid  trunks  of  which  do  not  rise  more  than 
a  couple  of  feet  above  the  ground,  as  they  then  throw  off  several  huge  branches, 
each  in  itself  equal  in  size  to  a  great  tree.  At  one  foot  from  the  ground  the 
larger  of  the  two  exceeds  twenty  feet  in  girth,  and  it  is  sixty  feet  in  height ;  and 
the  girth  of  the  smaller  is  not  much  short  of  twenty  feet.  The  terrible  storm 
of  2Sth  December,  1879,  broke  off  one  of  the  upper  branches  of  the  larger  of 
these  cedars,  and,  to  protect  the  tree,  it  has  since  been  stayed  by  a  strong 


Chap.  XXXV.]  ANGCS  IN  PAEISHES— LIFF  &  BENVIE.  205 

galvanized  wire  rope.  The  age  of  these  great  trees  is  unknown,  but  they  must 
have  been  old  when  our  great-grandfathers  were  young.  The  extraordinary 
size  of  some  of  the  other  trees  in  the  park  and  in  the  Den  of  Gray  astonishes 
visitors.  An  oak  fifteen  or  sixteen  feet  in  girth,  or  a  graceful  silver  fir  thirteen 
or  fourteen  feet  in  girth,  and  of  corresponding  height,  is  no  ordinary  everyday 
sight. 

The  mansion  originally  consisted  of  a  central  portion,  with  a  pediment  on 
which  the  arms  of  Lord  Gray  are  displayed,  and  a  wing  on  each  side  thereof, 
each  crowned  with  a  tower.  It  is  of  three  floors  in  height,  each  floor  showing 
in  front  seven  windows.  The  main  floor  is  reached  by  a  flight  of  steps  outwith 
the  central  portion  of  the  building.  This  portion  was  erected  about  the 
middle  of  last  century,  from  designs  by  the  elder  Adams.  The  front  of  this 
portion  of  the  mansion  is  ornate  and  handsome.  Additions  were  added  to  both 
wings  at  later  times,  and  the  frontage  of  the  mansion  is  of  considerable  length, 
but  the  parts  harmonize  well. 

The  lands  of  Wester  Gourdie,  which  were  Church  lands  belonging  to  Scone 
Abbey,  have  been  in  possession  of  the  Wedderburns  of  Kingennie  for  about 
three  centuries.  We  are  not  sure  of  the  date  when  they  were  acquired,  but 
Eobert  Wedderburn  was  in  possession  of  at  least  part  of  the  lands  in  1590, 
and  he  may  have  held  them  some  time  before  that  year. 

Alexander  Wedderburn  of  Tofts  and  Kingennie  obtained  from  James  VI.  a 
charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  lands  of  Gourdie  Wester  in  the  year  1591. 
On  15th  December,  1637,  Alexander  Wedderburn,  son  of  Master  Alexander 
Wedderburn  of  Kingennie,  was  served  heir  (No,  239)  to  his  father  in  the 
sunny  half  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Wester  Gourdie,  with  the  teinds ;  and 
also  the  shadow  half  of  same  town  and  lands,  with  teinds  of  same — E., 
£27  16s  8d. 

On  16th  March,  1686,  Alexander  Wedderburn,  son  and  heir  of  Alexander 
Wedderburn  of  Easter  Powrie,  was  retoured  (No.  500)  in  the  sunny  and 
shadow  halves  of  Wester  Gourdie,  with  teinds,  and  backseats.  On  24th 
March,  1692,  Alexander,  heir  of  his  father  Alexander  Wedderburn  of  Easter 
Powrie,  was  retoured  (No.  521)  in  both  halves  of  the  lands  of  Gourdie,  with 
teinds,  and  the  backseats— E.,  20m  lis  8d,  &c.  feudifirmge. 

The  estate  of  Gourdie  still  remains  in  possession  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Wedderburns  who  owned  it  in  the  sixteenth  century.  It  includes  the  farms 
of  Gourdie  and  Bullion,  with  pendicles,  and  many  feus  which  were  given  oft' 


^06  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

at  Birkhill.     The  present  proprietor  is  Henry  Scrmygeour  Wedderburn  of 
Wedderburn  and  Birkhill. 

Considerable  portions  of  the  parish  of  Liff  have  been  given  off  in  fens.  We 
mentioned  above  that  the  land  owned  by  Lord  Stormonth  at  Backmuir  of  Liff 
had  subsequently  been  feued  by  the  Gray  family.  In  addition  to  these,  a  large 
quantity  of  land  at  Birkhill,  part  of  the  Gourdie  estate,  has  been  given  off"  in  feu 
by  the  family  of  Wedderburn.  Eobert  Millar  acquired  in  feu  some  land  at 
Muirhead,  which  he  has  sub-feued  in  small  lots.  There  are  also  a  number  of 
feus  given  off  at  the  Kirkton  of  Liff"  by  the  proprietor  of  Gray.  These  feus 
vary  in  size,  some  of  them  being  no  more  than  sufficient  for  the  site  of  a  dwelling- 
house  and  garden,  but  others  are  pendicles  extending  to  several  acres,  with  the 
necessary  housing  for  the  family  and  their  bestial. 

A  Free  Church,  with  manse  and  garden,  was  erected  on  the  ground  at  Muir- 
nead  after  the  Disruption.  The  situation  is  not  a  very  fine  one,  but  both 
church  and  manse  are  comfortable,  and  the  church  is  a  great  boon  to  the 
numerous  industrious  cottars  and  pendiclers  who  occupy  the  feus  around. 
Many  of  the  feuars'  dwellings  are  erected  on  the  sides  of  the  highway  from 
Dundee  to  Newtyle  and  Coupar- Angus. 

The  Dundee  Asylum  was  founded  on  3d  September,  1812,  and  opened  for 
patients  on  1st  April,  1820.  It  was  then  outwith  the  town  and  in  the  open 
country.  In  the  course  of  time  it  became  surrounded  by  buildings  and  a  large 
population,  which  destroyed  the  privacy  absolutely  necessary  for  such  an  insti- 
tution ;  and  it  had  become  much  too  small  for  the  wants  of  this  district  of  the 
county. 

The  Governors  wisely  resolved  to  erect  a  new  Asylum  on  a  suitable  site  at 
some  distance  from  the  town,  and  they  acquired  a  site  on  the  rising  ground 
between  the  policies  of  Camperdown  and  Gray,  but  at  a  distance  from  both. 
The  site  has  a  southern  exposure,  and  is  in  all  respects  an  admirable  one.  The 
land  secured  extends  to  about  95  acres,  and  on  it  a  new  Asylum  has  been  built, 
in  a  simple  Scotch  baronial  style,  600  feet  long  in  front,  with  a  tower  at  each 
end,  and  open  lantern  in  the  centre.  It  contains  accommodation  for  400 
patients,  with  all  the  necessary  appliances  which  modern  experience  and 
medical  skill  consider  requisite  for  the  health,  and  for  ameliorating  the  condi- 
tion of  the  unfortunate  patients  who  may  require  to  reside  in  the  institution. 
The  building  has  a  noble  appearance,  and  does  honour  to  Edward  &  Robert- 
son, the  architects.   It  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  patients  in  October,  1882. 


Chap.  XXXVI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- LINTRATHEN.  207 


Chap.  XXXYI.— LINTRATHEN. 

The  Church  of  Lantrethyne,  Luntrethin,  Liatrathen,  was  a  vicarage  in  the 
diocese  of  St  Andrews.  During  a  vacancy  in  1386  the  rents  of  the  vicarage 
were  uplifted  by  order  of  the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  and  applied  to  assist  in  the 
repair  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  that  city,  which  had  been  much  injured  by 
fire  that  year. 

In  1,574  the  Churches  of  Lintrathen,  Glamrnis,  Essie,  and  Methie  were 
served  by  one  minister,  Johnne  Navay,  who  had  a  stipend  of  £100  Scots  and 
kirk  lands.  Robert  Stewart  was  reidare  at  Lintrethin,  salary  £16  Scots  and 
kirk  lands.     (Wod.  Mis.,  p.  351.) 

Lintrathen  was  valued  at  20  merks  in  the  old  Taxation  (Reg.  de  Aberb., 
239),  and  the  Church  was  dedicated  to  Saint  Meddan.  The  patronage  and 
teinds  of  the  Chapel  of  Glentrathen  were  given  to  the  Priory  of  Inchmahone, 
in  Lake  Monteith.     In  the  old  Valuation  no  chapel  is  mentioned. 

The  present  Parish  Church  was  built  in  1802-3,  on  the  site  of  the  previous 
church,  which  was  an  old  building,  and  it  may,  and  probably  was,  built  on  or 
near  to  the  site  of  a  chapel  which  was  erected  by  Alan  the  Durward.  The 
church  was  recently  repaired  and  enlarged,  and  is  comfortable  and  suitable 
for  the  requirements  of  the  parish.  A  good  manse  adjoins  the  church,  and 
church  and  manse  stand  on  a  small  eminence  on  the  east  or  left  bank  of  the 
Melgum,  near  to  a  deep  pool  and  waterfall  of  considerable  height  on  that 
stream.  The  name  of  the  parish  is  of  G-aelic  origin,  and  signifies  rapid  lynn, 
from  that  cascade,  which  is  in  a  deep  ravine  or  linn.  The  situation  of  the 
church  and  manse  is  romantic  and  pretty. 

Bells  were  introduced  into  Scotland  at  an  early  period,  and  some  of  them 
were  held  in  great  veneration,  wonderful  virtues  being  ascribed  to  them  in 
Romish  times.  Adamnan  makes  reference  to  St  Columba's  Bell.  It  was 
called  "  Grod's  Vengeance,"  which  was  believed  to  fall  on  all  who  swore  falsely 
upon  it.  Many  otlier  holy  bells  were  celebrated  in  story.  Amongst  the 
articles  bestowed  on  a  bishop  when  consecrated  was  a  small  hand  bell.  St 
Patrick  gave  to  the  Bishop  of  Sletty,  when  he  conferred  the  Episcopal  dignity 
upon  him,  a  box  containing  a  bell  and  a  menster,  a  crozier  and  a  poolire,  being 
the  insignia  of  the  pastoral  office.  Some  bells  in  Scotland  were  dedicated  to 
ancient  Scottish  saints.      St  Mungo's  Bell  figures  in  the  arms  of  the  Cit^ir  of 


208  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part.  XIY. 

Glasgow.  Custodiers  were  sometimes  appointed  to  take  charge  of  bells  and 
other  sacred  relics,  and  the  custody  of  the  relic  became  hereditary  in  the  family, 
and  in  several  instances  emoluments  and  lands  pertained  to  their  holders. 
Among  "  The  Airlie  Papers"  printed  in  the  Spalding  Miscellany  (Vol.  IV"., 
pp.  11 7-118)  an  instance  is  related.  One  of  the  papers  is  a  formal  resignation 
of  the  bell  of  St  Meddan,  by  Michael  David,  its  hereditary  curator,  to  Sir  John 
Ogilvy,  and  the  transference  of  it  by  him  to  his  wife,  Margaret,  Countess  of 
Moray,  dated  27th  June,  1447.  It  is  followed  by  the  instrument  of  sessyn  of 
the  bell,  dated  twenty-one  days  after  the  resignation.  By  it  the  Countess  got 
the  substantial  advantag;es  which  pertained  to  the  custodier  of  the  bell.  These 
were  a  house  or  toft  near  the  Church  of  Lintrathen,  which  pertained  to  the 
bell,  of  which  it  formed  both  the  title  and  evidence  of  tenure.  The  formal 
process  of  investiture  described  in  the  seizin  is  curious,  the  Countess  having 
been  shut  into  the  house  by  herself  after  receiving  the  feudal  symbols  of 
resignation  of  the  property  by  the  delivery  to  her  of  earth  and  stone. 

The  old  bell  of  St  Meddan  appears  to  be  lost.  Jervise  relates  that  about 
the  middle  of  this  century  an  old  man  had  told  him  that  some  years  previously 
the  effects  of  an  old  woman  were,  at  her  death,  sold  at  Burnside  of  Airlie, 
among  which  was  an  old  rusty  thing  like  a  flagon  that  was  called  Maidie's 
Bell.  The  description  given  of  this  article  corresponds  with  that  of  the 
skellachs  or  bells  of  the  middle  ages. 

The  parish  is  triangular  in  shape,  about  ten  miles  in  extreme  length,  and 
five  at  its  greatest  breadth.  It  is  bounded  by  Kirriemuir  on  the  north,  Kin- 
goldrum  on  the  east,  Airlie  on  the  south,  and  Glenisla  on  the  west.  The  lower 
division  of  it  consists  of  gentle  slopes,  the  middle  of  valleys  with  low  hills 
between,  and  the  upper,  of  the  southern  ranges  of  the  Grampians,  with  inter- 
vening glens.  It  may  be  said  to  be  in  the  Braes  of  Angus,  with  the  Vale  of 
Strathmore  in  front,  and  the  Grampian  mountains  behind.  It  contains 
22,872-692  acres,  of  which  248-691  are  water. 

In  the  course  of  the  alterations  made  upon  the  ground  near  the  Church  by 
the  Dundee  Water  Commissioners,  a  fragment  of  a  sculptured  cross  was  found. 
It  is  either  part  of  an  arm  or  the  top  of  a  cross,  and  it  is  ornamented  with 
interlaced  work.  It  may  have  stood  upon  the  toft  by  which  the  bell  of  St 
Meddan  was  resigned  to  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  it  is  a 
portion  of  the  Cross  of  St  Meddan,  around  which  fairs  were  held,  and  before 
which  pilgrims  knelt  and  jorayed. 

In  Sinclair's  account  of  the  parish  in  1792  it  is  said  the  parish  is  "  elevated 


Chap.  XXXVI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LINTRATHEN. 


209 


on  the  skirts  of  the  Grampians  from  500  to  1000  feet  above  Strathmore,  and 
has  a  bleak  and  barren  aspect.  The  surface  is  uneven,  consisting  of  hills, 
valleys,  and  mountains." 

Abont  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north-east  of  the  Church  there  is  an  artificial 
eminence,  the  summit  of  whicli  commands  an  extensive  prospect.  On  this  spot  a 
gibbet  was  erected  for  those  nnfortunate  persons  whom  the  servile  court  of  a 
despotic  baron  had  cendemned  to  death.  Vestiges  of  the  hangman's  habita- 
tion appear  at  the  foot  of  the  tumulus,  and  the  name  of  a  neighbouring  plot 
of  laud  perpetuates  the  memory  of  this  infamous  practice. 

Haifa  mile  north-west,  on  an  elevated  healthy  tract,  are  many  tumuli  or 
cairns.  There,  perhaps,  a  battle  was  fought  by  some  contending  chiefs,  but 
tradition  is  silent.  Near  the  west  end  of  the  lake  there  are  the  remains  of  an 
extensive  enclosure,  said  to  have  been  a  deer  park  belonging  to  Sir  Alan  Dur- 
ward  of  that  ilk. 

'Ihe  teinds  of  the  parish  were  purchased  by  the  family  of  Airlie  in  1770 
from  John  Erskine  of  Carnoch.  He  acquired  them  from  the  representatives 
of  the  Earl  of  ]\Iar,  who  received  them  from  James  VI.,  with  the  priory  of 
Inchmahome  and  other  lands,  the  same  having  been  erected  into  a  temporal 
lordship  called  the  lordship  and  barony  of  Cardross. 

At  that  time  "  A  Friend  to  Statistical  Inquiries,"  who  wrote  the  account  of 
the  parish,  says  there  v.-ere  about  li(ty  of  the  population  in  the  parish  "  who  are 
denominated  fiirmers  who  occupy  certain  proportions  of  land,  out  of  which 
they  teir  a  scanty  subsistence."  Few  improvements  in  agriculture  had  then 
been  made  there,  the  old  system  being  still  maintained.  Oats  and  barley 
were  the  principal  productions  of  the  ill-cultivated  soih  He  says — ''■  However 
sacred  the  promise  of  a  feudal  lord  may  be,  little  exertion  will  be  made  where 
no  leases  are  granted,  and  where  heavy  servitudes  are  imposed."  The  tenant 
was  bound  to  perform  twelve  carriages  to  the  distance  of  twenty  miles,  even  in 
seed  time  or  harvest,  at  the  will  of  the  proprietor,  lie  speaks  in  strong  terms 
of  this  humiliating  system,  which  had  been  abolished  by  every  enlightened 
landlord,  but  still  kept  up  in  this  parish.  He  says — "  There  are  no  enclosures 
nor  plantations  of  trees,  and  scarcely  one  fifth  of  the  parish  is  arable.  The 
whole  perhaps  ought  to  be  converted  into  grass  farms,  the  coldness  of  the  climate 
and  poverty  of  the  soil  being  inimical  to  cultivation."  "  There  is  no  trade  nor 
manufacture  in  this  corner  but  such  as  is  necessary  to  the  accommodation  of 
the  natives,  and  their  wants  are  few.  Destitute  of  elegancies,  and  most  of  the 
conveniences  of  life,  their  desires  are  limited.  They  enjoy  little,  and  with 
2d 


210  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

that  little  they  are  contented.  Attached  to  their  native  soil,  they  are  temperate 
and  sober." 

"  The  Church  is  an  old,  dark,  disproportioned  fabric,  built  at  two  different 
periods.  The  manse  is  a  wretched  hovel,  covered  with  thatch.  The  abject 
state  of  this  habitation  is  not  owing  to  any  reluctance  in  the  heritors  to  grant 
repairs,  but  to  another  cause  which  has  now  ceased  to  operate.  The  stipend 
is  i,*400  Scots  and  40  bolls  victual.  The  late  incumbent,  far  advanced  in  life 
when  promoted  to  this  charge,  officiated  20  years,  and  his  two  immediate 
predecessors  107  years." 

"The  parochial  schoolmaster  has  a  salary  of  six  or  seven  bolls  oats,  collected 
from  the  tenants,  and  some  trifling  fees.  On  this  miserable  allowance  he  has 
contrived  to  support  a  family  upwards  of  sixty  years.  The  hut  in  which  he 
resides  is  hardly  fit  to  accommodate  the  meanest  beggar.  The  poor  on  the 
roll  were  from  five  to  seven.  The  funds  for  their  relief  are  tlie  rent  of  a  gallery 
in  the  church,  the  mortcloth  money,  the  interest  of  a  small  capital,  and  a 
weekly  collection  of  tenpence  or  a  shilling." 

The  writer  of  the  account  does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  minister  of  the 
parish.  From  what  he  says  it  appears  to  have  been  then  vacant.  The  accounts 
he  gives  of  the  parish,  the  church,  manse,  schoolhouse^  the  state  of  husbandry, 
and  the  condition  of  the  people  are  miserable  in  the  extreme,  and  the  contrast 
when  compared  with  the  state  of  matters  at  the  present  time  is  most  extraordinary 
and  most  gratifying.  "  The  good  old  times"  is  altogether  inapplicable  to  Lin- 
trathen  less  than  a  century  ago.     There  was  nothing  good  there  then. 

The  parish  is  now  smiling  in  beauty.  A  much  larger  portion  of  it  is  now 
cultivated  than  was  arable  last  century.  Husbandry  is  scientifically  and  care- 
fully performed.  The  various  crops  sown  are  the  same  as  those  grown  in  the 
district,  and  the  land  yields  a  good  return.  Trees  have  been  planted  on  several 
parts  of  the  parish,  which  enliven  and  give  variety  to  the  scenery.  The  "  Friend 
to  Statistical  Inquiries"  would  not  know  the  Loch  of  Lintrathen  now  were  he 
to  see  it.     The  lake  and  its  surrounding  now  form  a  charming  picture. 

There  is  a  good  church  and  a  handsome  manse.  The  school  and  school- 
house  are  now  comfortable  buildings,  and  both  minister  and  teacher  are  more 
adequately  remunerated  than  were  their  predecessors  in  former  times. 

The  farmers  now  enjoy  the  comforts  and  some  of  the  elegancies  of  life.  The 
servitudes  are  things  of  the  past,  and  leases  are  general.  Even  the  working 
classes  are  well  housed  and  fed,  and  in  every  respect  more  comfortable  thaA 
their  forefathers  were  in  the  olden  times. 


Chap.  XXXVL]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LINTRATHEN.  211 

According  to  tradition  the  family  of  tlie  Durwards  possessed  the  greater 
part  of  the  parish  of  Lintrathen  at  an  early  period.       Tliey  were  hereditary 
Hostiarii  or  doorl^eepers  to  the  Kings  of  Scotland,  and  they  assumed  their 
surname  from  their  office.     Alan  the  Durward  or  Hostiarius,  who  lived  in  the 
beffinnino;  of  the  thirteenth  century,  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished,  the 
most  daring,  and  the  most  powerful  magnate  in  Scotland  in  his  time,  and  he 
acquired  immense  territories  in  different  counties  in  the  kingdom.     He  is  said 
to  have  had  a  residence  upon  the  south-west  side  of  the  Hill  of  Formal,  which 
overlooked  part  of  Glenisla  and  the  Loch  of  Lintrathen.       About  1831   a 
quantity  of  Roman  coins  were  found  in  a  hillock  near  to  the  reputed  site  of 
Durward's  Castle.       After  the  ftiilure  of  the  Durwards  in  the  male  line,  the 
barony  of  Lintrathen  appears  to  have  come  into  possession  of  a  family  named 
Duncan.       They  also  failed  in  the  male  line,  and  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  married 
the  heiress,  and  with  her  obtained  Lintrathen  in  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth 
century.     He  was  a  favourite  with  King  James,  and  was  frequently  employed 
in  State  affairs. 

A  part  of  the  parish  of  Lintrathen  belonged  to  the  ancient  Maormers  and 
Earls  of  Angus.  Through  fliilure  of  heirs  male  the  extensive  territories  of 
the  Pictish  Earls  passed  by  marriage  to  the  families  of  Comyn,  Umphraville, 
Stewart  (one  of  whom  married  the  heiress  of  Abernethy,  and  added  her  wide 
domains  to  his  other  large  estates),  and  the  great  house  of  Douglas.  One  of 
the  latter  family,  Archibald,  Earl  of  Douglas,  gave  Sir  Walter  de  Ogilvy  a 
charter  of  the  lands  of  Curbadow,  Purgevy,  Galoucht,  and  Glenquharady,  in 
the  barony  of  Lintrathen,  which  the  Eegent,  Robert,  Duke  of  Albany,  con- 
firmed on  20th  November,  1406.     (In.  to  Ch.,  161-3.) 

The  Earls  of  Angus,  and,  coming  after  them,  the  Earls  of  Douglas,  and  the 
Durwards,  had  probably  owned  the  whole  parish  in  the  end  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  and  it  appears  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  had  obtained  possession  of  the  entire 
portions  which  each  of  them  held  before  the  end  of  the  first  decade  of  the 
fifteenth  century. 

The  successors  of  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  have  not  lost  their  hold  on  Lintrathen 
since  he  acquired  the  property,  nearly  five  centuries  ago,  and  they  still  own  a 
large  portion  of  the  parish,  including  the  old  barony  of  Lintrathen  and 
the  lands  of  Ravernie  ;  Shannally,  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  Glentullach, 
which  belonged  to  the  Abbey  of  Cupar,  and  is  frequently  mentioned  in 
the  Rental  Book  of  the  Abbey,  edited  by  Dr  Rogers  ;  Strone,  which  lies 
at  some  distance  north  from  the  Loch,  as   shown  in  the  map  given  with 


212  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XLY. 

Vol.  II.,  but  it  is  not  mentioned  by  that  name  in  the  Valuation  Eoll ;  and 
others. 

The  lands  formerly  known  as  Fornichtie  or  Foruathy  are  now  called  the 
Middleton  estate.  In  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  perhaps 
before  then,  these  lands  were  divided  between  two  proprietors,  the  one  being  a 
cadet  of  the  noble  flimily  of  Ogilvy,  and  the  other  the  Crichtons,  lairds  of 
Euthven.  On  20th  May,  1647,  George  Ogilvy,  then  laird  of  Fornichtie,  sokl 
his  half  to  James  Ogilvy.  On  24th  October,  1668,  Colonel  James  Ogilvy  of  ' 
Forniclitie  sold  his  half  to  David,  Lord  Ogilvy.  One  of  the  witnesses  to  the 
charter  is  John  Ogilvy,  elder  of  Peill.  On  2yth  July,  1656,  James  Crichton  of 
Ruthven  succeeded  John,  his  grandsir,  in  half  these  lands  (Ret,  355),  A.E. 
50s,  N.F.  £10.  On  8ih  November,  1677,  James  Crichton  of  Euthven  sold  his 
half  of  Fornichtie  to  David,  Lord  Ogilvy.  The  Earl  of  Airlie  made  up  his 
title  to  the  property  in  1851.  Sir  David  Wedderburn  appears  to  have  acquired 
the  property  on  19th  February,  1851.  On  14th  May,  1874,  the  estate  of 
Middleton  was  acquired  by  William  Japp  of  Broomhall,  in  Glenisla. 

The  small  property  of  Needs  belonged  to  the  Earl  of  Airlie.  On  12th 
October,  1811),  David,  ninth  Earl  of  Airlie,  heir  of  Walter,  eighth  Earl,  his 
fiither,  succeeded.  In  1849  he  was  succeeded  by'his  son,  David  Graham 
Drummond,  tenth  Earl  of  Airlie,  who  sold  the  property  in  1874  to  Mr  Japp, 
and  it  now  forms  part  of  his  estate  of  Middleton. 

In  the  Eoll  of  1683  the  "  Easter  plough  of  Formal"  is  mentioned  as  in  the 
barony  of  Lintrathen.  It  came  into  possession  of  John  Smyth,  as  also  did 
Peel  and  Blackdykes.  These  lands  appear  to  be  now  called  Formal  and 
Blackdykes,  belonging  to  the  trustees  of  Robert  Smyth.  Easter  Glenquharity 
is  also  included  in  the  old  Eoll ;  it  belonged  in  1791  to  James  Ogilvy,  but  the 
propertji  by  this  name  has  disappeared  from  the  modern  Eoll. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Auld  Allan  estate  is  in  Lintrathen,  the  remainder 
being  in  Kingoldrum.  It  has  been  long  in  possession  of  the  laird  of  Euthven, 
the  present  proprietor  being  Colonel  Thomas  Wedderburn  Ogilvy  of  Euthven 
and  Auld  Allan.  For  some  particulars  of  this  property  see  supra,  p.  37.  This 
property  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Roll  of  1683. 

In  charters  of  the  fifteenth,  sixteenth,  and  seventeenth  centuries  the  lands 
of  Ballintore  and  Glenquharity  are  generally  conjoined,  and  passed  from  one 
proprietor  to  another  together.  In  early  times  they  were  in  possession  of  the 
old  Earls  of  Angus,  and,  through  the  later  Earls,  came  to  the  Douglas  Earls  of 
Angus.     The  first  time  we  meet  with  these  lands  is  on  20th  November,  1405, 


Chap.  XXXVL]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LINTRATHEK  213 

when  the  Earl  of  Douglas  granted  charter  of  them,  of  that  date,  to  Sir  Walter 
Cgilvy,  which  was  confirmed  by  Robert,  Duke  of  Albany,  Regent.  From  Sir 
Walter  they  passed  to  Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Angus.  On  1st 
February,  1438,  he  gave  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity  one  third  part  of 
these  lands,  and  also  Coul  and  Kinzalty.  There  is  a  Conl  in  this  parish 
and  another  in  Tannadice.  It  may  have  been  the  latter  that  was  given. 
(Bal.  MS.) 

William  Guthrie  of  Glenquharady  was  a  juror,  1st  January,  1454  (H.  of  C. 
of  S.).  Before  20th  February,  1510-11,  Ballintore  and  Glenquharity  had  come 
into  possession  of  the  JNIurrays,  as  of  that  date  John  Scrymgeour  had  a  charter 
of  these  lands  from  Andrew  Murray.  (Vol.  II.,  p.  IG  ;  Doug.  I.,  465.) 
Thomas  Ogilvy  was  designed  of  Glenquharities,  IGth  May,  1558.  The  Inver- 
quharity Ogilvies  retained  them  until  the  second  decade  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  when  they  appear  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the  family  of  the 
Earl  of  Buchan,  who  acquired  Auchterhouse.  On  7th  September,  1615,  Lady 
Mary  Douglas,  Countess  of  Buchan,  succeeded  her  mother,  Lady  Christian 
Stewart,  Countess  of  Buchan,  in  Glenquharities  (Ret.  86). 

These  lands  then  came  into  possession  of  the  Earls  of  Moray,  Earl  James 
having  succeeded  his  father  in  them  on  2 1st  April,  1619  (Ret.  116).  They 
afterwards  came  into  possession  of  the  Earl  of  Carnwarth.  On  30th  May, 
1676,  Earl  James  was  served  heir  to  his  ftither.  Earl  Gavin,  in  said  lands  (Ret, 
467).  From  this  family  they  passed  to  the  Earls  of  Strathmore.  On  29th 
October,  1695,  Earl  John  was  served  heir  to  his  father.  Earl  Patrick,  in 
Glenquharities  (Ret.  536).  In  the  Roll  of  1()83  Invercarity  for  Ballintore, 
£170  I3s  4d,  is  entered. 

Perhaps  some  of  these  parties  may  have  held  the  superiority  of  the  lands 
only,  and  the  Inverquharity  family  the  proprietary  rights.  The  Glenquharities, 
the  proprietors  of  which  we  have  given,  is  the  glen  through  which  the  Carity 
runs.  It  rises  in  two  heads,  one  near  the  modern  Castle  of  Ballintore,  and 
the  other  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  Loch  of  Lintrathen.  They  meet  after  a 
short  course,  and,  running  past  the  southern  base  of  Catlaw,  through  Kin- 
goldrum  and  Kirriemuir  parishes,  fall  into  the  South  Esk  at  Inverquharity. 

Ballintore  was  acquired  from  Sir  John  Ogilvy  by  Sir  James  Kinloch  about 
the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century.  On  7th  May,  1791,  Ballintore  was 
divided  into  four  parts,  and  Charles  Lyell  is  entered  as  proprietor  of  all,  viz., 
Easter  Coul,  Burnside  ofBalintore,  Mains  of  do.,  and  Westertown  of  do. 

The  lands  of  Balintore  have  frequently  changed  hands  during  the  present  cen- 


21 4  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

tuiy.  Among  the  lairds  was  David  Lyon,  M.P.  He  built  an  elegant  castellated 
mansion  on  the  estate,  and  laid  out  the  surrounding  grounds,  planting  many- 
trees  and  other  sylvan  adornments.  When  they  grow  up  the  appearance  of 
the  Castle  and  grounds  will  be  much  improved  iu  appearance,  but  hitherto  the 
situation  is  somewhat  bleak  and  naked.  David  Lyon  of  Jamaica  and  Portland 
Place,  London,  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  John  Reid  of  Cairnie,  in  St 
Vigeans  parish,  and  by  her  he  had  IMajor  William  Lyon  of  Balintore  Castle. 
In  1860  he  married  Louisa  Maria  Sporle,  eldest  daughter  of  Henry  Valentine 
Smith,  Albertgate,  London,  and  has  William  Francis  Henry,  born  1861. 
David  Lyon  was  Major  8th  Hussars,  and  was  M.P.  for  Seaford  1831-2.  He 
is  a  Magistrate  for  Sussex  and  Middlesex,  and  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Goring, 
near  Worthing. 

The  Lyons  did  not  retain  possession  of  Balintore  long.  It  was  acquired  by 
James  Stormonth  Darling  of  Lethnathie.  He  added  a  part  of  the  property  to 
Lethnathie,  and  sold  the  balance  of  the  estate  of  Balintore,  with  the  Castle,  to 
Captain  Gavin  Steel.  Major  Gavin  Steel  did  not  retain  the  property  long, 
as  he  sold  castle  and  lands  to  Thomas  Chirnside,  a  gentleman  who  was  for 
many  years  resident  in  Australia.  He  acquired  the  estate  of  Balintore  in  the 
end  of  the  year  1881.  Balintore  is  still  the  property  of  Major  Thomas  Chirn- 
side, and  he  has  done  a  good  deal  to  improve  the  grounds  and  give  them  a 
more  civilized  appearance  than  they  previously  had.  The  trees  planted  by  Mr 
Lyon  are  now  making  some  appearance  at  a  distance,  and  in  a  few  years  more 
will  clothe  and  shelter  the  castle,  and  increase  the  value  of  the  estate. 

The  Loch  of  Lintrathen  was  a  beautiful  and  picturesque  sheet  of  water. 
Since  the  loch  and  the  grounds  around  it  were  acquired  by  the  Dundee  Water 
Commissioners  they  raised  the  outlet  and  embanked  part  of  the  Loch,  so  as 
greatly  to  extend  its  area  and  increase  its  storage  capacity.  A  particular 
account  of  this  magnificent  reservoir,  with  several  interesting  details  supplied  by 
James  Watson,  C.E.,  the  active,  intelligent,  and  obliging  manager  of  the  works, 
has  already  been  given  in  the  chapter  on  the  Lochs  in  Angus.  (Vol.  I.,  p,  158.) 

The  operations  of  the  Commissioners  have  not  detracted  from  the  picturesque 
beauty  of  the  Loch  ;  on  the  contrary,  its  old  attractions  are  still  preserved,  and 
the  fine  winding  walks,  the  judicious  planting  of  flowering  evergreen  shrubs, 
with  bushes  and  trees  and  other  ornamental  vegetation,  add  new  charms  to 
the  scenery  around  the  Loch.  The  extensive  works  necessary  for  retaining  the 
water  in  the  locli,  its  emission  by  a  tunnel  to  tho  registering  cistern,  and  thence 
by  pipes  across  the  Isla,  and  onward  to  Dundee ;  the  service  measured  over- 


Chap.  XXXVI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.—LINTRATHEK  215 

flow ;  the  spare  water  overflow,  and  tlie  embankments,  are  well  worthy  of  a 
visit.  The  very  handsome  lodge,  its  useful  adjuncts,  its  tasteful  surroundings 
and  comfortable  interior,  are  in  fine  keeping  with  the  Loch  and  with  the  grand 
scenery  around  it.  The  works  at  and  about  the  Loch  do  credit  to  their 
engineer,  James  Leslie,  C.E.,  and  the  lodge  and  its  accessories  and  surround- 
ings do  equal  credit  to  the  manager,  who  planned  them  and  had  his  designs 
carried  out. 

I  am  no  engineer,  but  there  is  one  part  of  the  scheme,  as  carried  out,  to 
which  common  sense  revolts.  I  refer  to  the  sinking  of  the  water  mains  some 
feet  below  the  bed  of  the  lower  Isla.  The  operations  were  difficult  and  costly, 
perhaps  more  so  than  a  viadu3t  across  the  river  and  for  some  distance  along 
the  low  haugh  to  the  north  of  it.  Had  this  been  done  the  pressure  would  have 
been  much  less  than  it  now  is,  and  the  risk  of  the  pipes  bursting  would  have 
been  diminished.  Were  the  pipes  to  burst  below  the  bed  of  the  river  during 
winter  the  supply  might  be  stopped  for  many  months,  at  a  terrible  cost  to  the 
community  of  Dundee. 

In  the  account  of  the  parish  of  Kingoldrum,  we  took  some  notice  of  the 
Melgum  in  its  course  from  the  Loch  downwards.  From  the  Loch  until  it 
joins  the  Crombie  Burn,  below  the  Loups  of  Kenny,  is  little  more  than  two 
miles  in  length,  but  in  that  distance  there  are  six  cascades,  each  of  which  is 
worthy  of  a  visit,  and  most  of  them  are  extremely  picturesque.  The  channel 
is  narrow,  the  rocky  banks  precipitous,  and  in  many  places  perpendicular,  and 
the  sylvan  and  herbaceous  adornments  varied,  rich,  and  beautilul.  Pool, 
rocky  channel,  and  cascade  succeed  each  other  in  quick  succession,  each  having 
features  all  its  own,  but  all  picturesque  and  beautiful. 

The  Knock  of  Formal,  to  the  north  of  the  Loch,  is  about  1500  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  ocean,  and  about  half  that  height  above  the  Loch.  It  is  well 
wooded,  and  is  a  prominent  object  in  the  landscape. 

Between  the  Knock  and  the  Loch,  vestiges  of  the  wall  which  once  enclosed 
the  deer  park  of  Sir  Alan  Durward,  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Alexander  III., 
600  years  ago,  were  visible  when  the  new  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish 
was  written  in  1842,  and  perhaps  may  still  be  seen. 

Two  men  named  Vallam,  sons  of  David  Vallam  of  Woodwrae,  in  June, 
1596,  attacked  two  cadgers  or  carriers  at  the  Coltown  of  Melgum,  as  they  were 
"driving  seven  packs  of  merchant  geir  on  seven  horses  towards  Brechin,  to  the 
fair  thereof ;  and  did  thiftously  and  masterfully  convey  the  same  away  with 
them,  together  with  the  said  cadgers,  to  the  mouth  of  Glenmoy,  and  disponed 


216  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

upon  a  grit  part  of  the  said  merchant  geir  at  their  pleasure."  They  were  tried, 
convicted,  and  hanged  at  Edinburgh,  for  stouthrief.  The  circumstances  are 
such  as  might  occur  in  a  country  like  Spain  at  the  present  time. 

The  cultivated  land  in  the  parish,  though  generally  of  light  quality,  is  well 
farmed,  and  produces  very  fair  crops.  In  the  Highland  districts  the  higher 
hills  are  generally  heath  chid,  and  the  lower  parts  of  them,  and  the  glens 
between  the  hills,  each  of  which  has  its  rivulet,  are  clothed  with  rich  natural 
grass,  and  sheep  and  cattle  thrive  well  on  the  herbage  they  are  able  to 
pick  up. 

Walter  Ogilvy,  second  or  third  son  of  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse, 
Sheriff  of  Angus,  who  was  killed  in  1392,  received  a  gift  of  the  lands  of 
Carcary,  in  Farnell,  from  Sir  John  Erskine  of  Dun,  in  1400.  He  got  a  charter 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  lands  of  Lintrathen  from  Archibald,  Earl  of 
Douglas,  20th  November,  1406.     (H.  of  C.  of  S.)     (Bal.  MS.) 

In  140.5  he  married  Isobel  Glen,  and  got  from  Sir  John  Glen,  her  father, 
with  consent  of  Margaret  Erskine,  his  spouse,  her  mother,  and  John,  his  son 
(who  appears  to  have  died  early  without  issue),  in  marriage,  the  whole  lands 
of  Balhawill  or  Balhall,  in  the  parish  of  Menmuir. 

On  2d  January,  1419,  he  got  a  charter  from  Margaret  de  Glen,  Lady  of 
Inchmartine,  relict  of  the  deceased  Sir  John  Glen,  Kt.  (in  consideration  of 
good  advice  and  services  rendered  upon  various  occasions),  to  him  andlsobella, 
his  spouse,  and  in  remainder  to  his  sons,  Walter,  David,  Alexander,  and 
George,  of  the  lands  of  Achlewyne,  Ardvvyne,  and  Harlaw,  in  vie.  Aberdeen. 

He  got  another  charter,  dated  Gth  November,  1419,  from  Margaret  Glen, 
his  mother-in-law,  Lady  of  Inchmartine,  and  with  the  same  destination,  of  half 
the  lands  of  Wardropston,  in  the  Mearns.     (Bal.  MS.) 

He  was  appointed  Lord  Treasurer  in  1424,  became  a  Privy  Councillor,  and 
held  other  appointments  under  the  Crown.  He  was  a  man  of  great  distinction 
and  of  large  possessions,  all  self  acquired.  He  died  in  1440.  Sir  John  Ogilvy 
of  Lintrathen,  his  eldest  son  and  successor,  was  father  of  the  first  Lord  Airlie, 
by  Margaret,  Countess  of  Moray.  His  second  son,  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  of 
Auchleven,  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  John  Sinclair  of  Deskford 
and  Findlater,  and  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Earls  of  Findlater. 

Sir  Alexander,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  Walter,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and  lord  of 
Auchterhouse,  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  Patrick  Gray  of  Broxmouth,  a  sister 
of  Andrew,  first  Lord  Gray,  by  whom  he  had  two  daughters — Marjory,  married 
to  David,  third  Earl  of  Crawford  ;  and  Isobel,  married  to  Patrick,  first  Lord 


Chap.  XXXVL]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LINTEATHEN.  217 

Glamis ;  and  two  sons — Patrick,  his  successor  ;  and  Andrew,  styled  first  of 
Glen,  afterwards  of  Inchmartine.     (Bal.  MS.) 

Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy,  and  others  of  Scotland,  on  15th  May,  1412,  had 
letters  of  safe  conduct  to  pass  into  England.  On  IGth  April,  1413,  Alexander 
of  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  had  letters  of  safe  conduct  to  pass  into  England 
to  treat  about  the  liberation  of  the  King  of  Scotland.  On  24th  July, 
1421,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Eegent  Murdoch,  Duke  of  Albany,  one 
of  the  Auditors  of  Exchequer.  Between  this  date  and  October  10th,  1423, 
he  died. 

Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterliouse,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  Oreat  Justiciary  of  Scot- 
land, and,  after'the  death  of  Stewart  of  Dernley,  1429,  Constable  of  the  Scottish 
Army  in  France,  succeeded  his  father,  1421-2,  On  27th  April,  1412,  he  re- 
ceived from  Archibald,  Earl  of  Douglas,  for  his  services,  a  charter  of  the  lands 
of  Pitlyell,  in  the  barony  of  Eundie.  On  14th  October,  1413,  he  and  Christine, 
his  wife,  received  from  Sir  Alexander  Keith  of  Brandone,  her  father,  the  lands 
and  barony  of  Downe,  in  Banffshire,  and  the  lands  of  Eothirtiler,  in  Aberdeen- 
shire. On  8th- December,  1421,  confirmed  2d  August,  1428,  he  got  a  charter 
of  an  annual  rent  out  of  the  lands  of  Mikel  Barras,  to  Patrick  Ogilvy,  Lord  of 
Grandown,  by  Walter  of  Lintrathen,  his  uncle.  Charter  confirmed,  under  the 
Great  Seal,  14th  April  (reign  of  King  James  I.,  year  left  blank),  of  a  mortifi- 
cation granted  by  the  King's  cousin,  Patrick  of  Ogilvy,  Knight  of  Grandown, 
with  consent  of  Alexander  of  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Forfar,  for  the  purpose  of 
founding  a  chaplaincy  in  the  Church  of  Garioch. 

On  15th  October,  1422,  precept  of  sasine  by  Alexander  Stewart,  Earl  of 
Mar,  to  Patrick  Ogilvy,  son  and  heir  of  Alexander  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Angus, 
and  Christine,  his  spouse,  of  the  salmon  fishings  belonging  to  the  barony  of 
Montblairy,  in  Strathalvath. 

By  a  charter  dated  at  Auchterhouse,  2d  October,  1423,  Patrick  of  Ogilvy, 
Sheriff  of  Angus,  and  Christine,  his  spouse,  resigned  their  lands  of  Glenkuthill 
to  John,  Earl  of  Buchan,  Constable  of  France,  Lord  of  the  barony  of  Kyned- 
ward  and  Glenkuthill.  This  John,  Earl  of  Buchan,  who  was  killed  at  the 
Battle  of  Verneuil,  in  1421,  was  Christine's  first  cousin,  he  being  the  son  of 
Murilla  Keith,  her  aunt  (daughter  of  Sir  William  Keith,  Marischal  of  Scot- 
land), and  Robert,  Duke  of  Albany,  Regent  of  Scotland,  whose  second  wife 
she  was.  Two  other  charters  of  these  lands  were  given  by  Alexander  Keith 
to  Patrick  and  his  wife ;  and  by  the  Earl  of  Buchan  to  them,  dated  10th 
October,  1423. 

2  E 


218  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

On  24th  March,  1424,  Patrick  Ogilvj  of  Auchterhouse  was  one  of  those 
whom  James  I.  caused  to  be  arrested  (together  with  Murdoch,  Duke  of  Albany, 
and  others)  previous  to  the  trial  and  condemnation  of  the  Duke.  He  had  not 
been  long  detained,  as  in  1425  the  King  sent  Patrick,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and 
Justiciar  of  Scotland,  with  others,  upon  a  distinguished  embassy  to  France. 
Patrick  was  knighted  at  the  coronation  of  James  I.,  21st  May,  1424.  May, 
1425,  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and  Walter  Ogilvy 
of  Lintrathen,  Knights,  were  on  the  jury  that  condemned  Murdoch,  Duke  of 
Albany,  and  his  two  sons,  and  his  father-in-law,  the  Earl  of  Lennox,  to  death 
during  the  sitting  of  the  Parliament  held  at  Stirhng. 

In  1427  Alexander  Stewart,  Earl  of  Mar,  directs  a  precept  to  Duncan 
Forbes,  his  bailie,  for  giving  the  lands  of  Montblairy,  in  the  barony  of  Strath- 
alvath,  to  Patrick  Ogilvy,  son  and  heir  of  Alexander  de  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of 
Angus,  and  Christine,  his  wife. 

On  28th  August,  1428,  charter  of  ratification  by  David  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy 
of  a  charter  by  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and 
Justiciar  to  the  north  of  the  Forth,  confirming  a  cliarter  of  Wester  Powrie, 
which  Thomas  Fothringham  acquired  in  1412,  to  be  held  of  John  de  Ogilvy 
of  Ogilvy.     Andrew  of  Ogilvy,  Lord  of  Glen,  is  one  of  the  witnesses. 

Soon  after  the  date  of  this  charter  Sir  Patrick  must  have  gone  back  to  France. 
On  the  death  of  Sir  John  Stewart  of  Dernley,  who  was  killed  at  the  siege  of 
Orleans,  12th  February,  1429,  he  was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Scottish  Army  in  France.  Subsequently  returning  to  Scotland  by  mandate  of 
the  King  of  Scots,  he  perished  at  sea  by  shipwreck  off  the  coast  of  Brittany. 
This  event  must  have  occurred  before  29tli  December,  1432,  for  upon  that 
date  Walter,  Earl  of  Athole,  appears  as  Justiciar  to  the  north  of  the  Forth. 

Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse  left  by  his  wife,  Christine,  daughter 
and  heiress  of  Sir  Alexander  Keith  of  Graudown,  two  sons — Alexander  Ogilvy 
of  Auchterhouse,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and  also  of  Banff ;  and  Walter  Ogilvy  of 
Cures  and  Beaufort,  who  was  Deputy  Sheriff,  under  his  brother,  of  Angus  and 
Banff.  The  two  brothers  are  mentioned  on  8th  July,  1434.  On  1st  February, 
1438,  charter  was  given  by  Alexander  of  Auchterhouse  of  the  lands  of  Over 
Kiuzalty,  one-third  of  Glenquharity,  and  one  third  of  Coule,  to  Alexander 
Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity. 

On  March  10th,  1438,  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  by  Walter  Ogilvy,  son 
of  the  late  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  Kt.,  and  to  the  heirs  between  him 
and  Margaret  Fenton,  eldest  daughter  of  Walter  Fenton  of  Beaufort,  of  the 


Chap.  XXXVI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LINTRATHEN.  219 

lands  of  Beaufort.  These  lands  Walter  Ogilvy  subsequently  conveyed  to  his 
cousin,  Walter  Lindsay,  brother  of  Alexander,  fourth  Earl  of  Crawford. 

26th  February,  1439,  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  to  Walter  Ogilvie  of 
Beaufort,  of  the  lands  of  Oures,  in  the  Mearns,  on  resignation  of  Thomas 
Kate.  Service  before  Sir  Walter  Ogylvy  of  Beaufort,  Sheriff-Depute  of  Forfar, 
1444.    Andrew  Ogylvie,  Kt.,  one  of  the  jury.    (Strathmore  Papers,  Old  Inv.) 

An  indenture  was  entered  into  between  Sir  Alexander  Livingston  (guardian 
of  the  King's  person)  and  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Beaufort,  6th  July,  1445, 
regarding  the  marriage  of  Christiane  of  Erskine,  the  daughter  and  ayr  of  the 
diceased  Sir  John  Erskyn  of  Kinnoule,  with  James  Livingston,  grandson  of 
Sir  Alexander,  and  son  and  ayr  to  the  said  James  Livingston.  She  was  to 
be  delivirit  frely  to  the  said  James  in  the  Castel  of  Streviline,  or  in  the  Castle 
of  Meffaine,  be  the  said  Walter  Ogilvy,  at  the  ferrist  be  the  nativity  of  Our 
Lady  next  to  cum  but  fraude  or  gile  ;  and  the  said  Cristiane  to  be  marit  with 
James.  .  .  Item  it  is  accordit  that  the  said  Sir  Alexander  and  James  the  fader 
sal  do  all  thair  gudili  powirs  and  diligence  to  mak  the  said  Walter  be  con- 
firmit  be  our  said  Soverane  Lorde,  of  his  office  of  Deputy  under  his  said 
brother  (Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse)  of  the  Sheriffdomes  of  Forfar 
and  Bamff  for  all  the  days  of  his  life.  (Either  by  this  charter  or  by  another 
of  about  the  same  date,  Walter  is  constituted  Sheriff  over  his  brother  of  the 
Sheriffdoms  of  Angus  and  Banff.) 

Charter  was  granted  under  the  Great  Seal,  March  28,  1453,  making  Walter 
Ogilvy  of  Beaufort  tutor  and  guardian  to  his  "  fratri  Alexander  Ogilvie  de 
Uchterhouse  vice  comite  de  Forfar." 

On  9th  January,  1460,  Alexander  of  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  Sheriff  of 
Forfar,  with  consent  of  his  brother,  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Oures..  gave  a  charter  of 
an  annual  rent  out  of  the  lands  of  Easter  Glenesk  to  AValter  Lindsay  of  Beau- 
fort, afterwards  of  Glenesk.  Of  same  date  a  charter  was  given  by  David,  Earl 
of  Crawford,  confirming  the  other.  Both  these  charters  are  witnessed  by 
"  domino  Andrea  Ogilvy  de  Inchmartin  milite  patruo  meo,  Davide  de  Ogilvy, 
ejus  filio  et  heridi"  (that  is,  by  my  father's  brother,  otherwise  my  paternal  uncle). 

These  charters  show  that  Andrew  Ogilvy  was  uncle  of  Alexander  Ogilvy, 
and  a  younger  brother  of  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  which  fixes  the 
origin  of  the  Ogi Ivies  of  Inchmartine,  progenitors  of  the  Earls  of  Findlater  and 
Seafield,  which  was  not,  previous  to  these  charters  being  examined,  known 
with  certainty.  They  show  them  to  have  been  a  branch  of  the  family  of 
Ogilvy,  Earls  of  Airlie,  and  Baronets  of  Inverquharity. 


220  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Walter  Ogilvy  of  Beaufort,  then  of  Oiires,  and  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Auchter- 
liouse,  Sheriffs  of  Angus,  both  died  without  male  issue  in  the  reign  of  James 
III.  Alexander  left  a  daughter,  an  only  child,  Margaret,  who,  before  1466, 
was  married  to  Stewart,  Earl  of  Buchan,  and  carried  with  her  to  him  the 
estates  in  the  shires  of  Forfar,  Aberdeen,  and  Banff.  We  gave  some  account 
of  the  Stewart  proprietors  of  xiuchterhouse  in  Vol.  II.,  p.  388. 

Andrew,  afterwards  Sir  Andrew  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartine,  proved  as  above  to 
have  been  a  younger  brother  of  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse,  married 
Marjory  Ogilvy,  whose  mother,  Christian,  was  one  of  the  daughters,  co-heiresses 
of  Sir  John  Grlen  and  Margaret  Erskine,  his  wife,  inheritrix  of  Inchmartine, 
and  sometimes  styled  the  Lady  of  Inchmartine.  The  father  of  Marjory  was 
David  Ogilvy,  but  we  do  not  know  from  what  family  he  was  descended.  He 
died  before  Christian  Glen,  his  wife.  They  had  a  son,  Alexander  Ogilvy, 
designed  of  Duutrune,  and  a  daughter,  Margaret  Ogilvy,  married  to 
Silvester  Rattray  of  Rattray.  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Lintrathen  married,  for 
his  second  wife,  Isobel  Glen,  sister  of  Christian  Glen,  another  of  the  three  co- 
heiresses of  Sir  John  Glen. 

Sir  Andrew  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartine  got  a  part  of  that  property  with  Marjory, 
his  wife.  The  other  portions  he  obtained  by  degrees  from  the  other  portioners 
thereof.  Sir  Andrew  appears  to  have  got  Balmuto,  in  Fife,  probably  also  with 
his  wife,  as  in  exchange  for  it  he  got  a  charter  by  David  Bosvile  of  Cragineat 
to  him  and  Marjory,  his  wife,  and  their  issue  male,  whom  failing,  to  Alex- 
ander, son  and  heir  of  David  de  Ogilvy,  and  his  issue  male,  &o.,  of  the  lands  of 
Wester  Dron,  in  Fife,  1439.  Balmuto  belonged  to  a  David  Ogilvy,  15th 
January,  1434.     This  may  have  been  Marjory's  father. 

Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Duutrune  had  a  charter  of  a  sixth  part  of  Inchmartine, 
and  of  Cleghorn,  in  Lanarkshire,  on  the  resignation  of  his  mother.  Christian 
Glen,  10th  May,  and  by  a  charter  of  same  date  (year  not  given)  he  gave  his 
sixth  of  Inchmartine  to  David  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartine.  This  David  was  the 
son  of  Sir  Andrew,  who,  with  his  father,  was  a  witness  to  the  two  charters, 
dated  9th  January,  1460. 

Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Inchmartine,  seventh  in  direct  male  descent  from  Sir 
Andrew,  the  younger  son  of  Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  married 
Lady  Elizabeth  Ogilvy,  elder  daughter  of  James,  Earl  of  Findlater,  who, 
having  no  son,  and  his  patent  being  to  heirs  male  of  the  body,  obtained  a 
renewal  of  the  Earldom  in  flivour  of  liis  son-in-law,  and  his  heirs  male,  18th 
October,  1641.    On  the  death  of  James,  seventh  Earl  of  Findlater  and  of  Sea- 


Chap.  XXXVIL]      ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LOCHLEE.  221 

field,  the  Earldom  of  Seafleld,  which  is  to  heirs  general,  devolved  upon  Sir 
Alexander  Grant,  Baronet,  as  nearest  heir  female,  and  the  Earldom  of  Findlater 
has  since  remained  dormant. 

There  are  no  male  descendants  of  any  of  tlie  Earls  of  Findlater  now  living, 
and  the  title  of  right  belongs  to  the  nearest  heir  male  of  the  house  of  Incli- 
martine,  which  would  be  either  the  house  of  Airlie,  or  that  of  Tnverquharity, 
supposing,  as  is  apparently  the  case,  that  all  the  male  descendants  of  Andrew, 
first  of  Inchmartine,  have  died  out. 

It  appears  that  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhouse  had  another  son,  also 
named  Andrew,  w^ho  was  a  Clerk  in  the  diocese  of  Dunkeld,  to  whom  Alex- 
ander, Earl  of  Crawford,  gave  the  living  of  Lethnot,  which  carried  a  prebendal 
stall  in  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin.  He  is  referred  to  in  an  instrument  dated 
February,  1435-6.  He  m'sy  have  been  an  illegitimate  son,  church  preferments 
being  then  considered  legitimate  provision  for  illegitimate  sons. 

Chap.  XXXYII.— LOCHLEF. 

The  first  church  in  Glenesk  was  founded  by  St  Drostan,  Abbot,  who  was 
patron  Saint  of  the  district.  He  died  there  about  the  year  809,  and  his  body 
was  taken  to  xlberdour,  in  Aberdeenshire,  and  there  buried  in  a  stone  coffin, 
where  it  was  long  believed  to  effect  cures  upon  the  sick  and  afflicted  people 
who  went  to  it  seeking  relief. 

The  ruins  of  the  kirk  of  St  Drostan  of  Glenesk  stand  near  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  old  kirkyark,  at  the  east  end  of  Lochlee,  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  stream  which  issues  from  the  loch,  and  on  the  south  of  the  road  leading 
up  the  glen.  Down  to  1784  it  was  thatched  with  heath.  It  was  then  covered 
with  grey  slates.  To  the  north  of  the  churchyard  are  the  ruins  of  the  school 
and  schoolhouse,  once  tenanted  by  Alexander  Ross,  A.M.,  the  author  of  the 
fine  pastoral  tale,  in  the  Scottish  dialect,  of  "  The  Fortunate  Shepherdess."  A 
granite  monument,  raised  by  public  subscription,  was  erected  to  Jiis  memory 
in  the  churchyard,  facing  the  entrance.  He  was  born  in  April,  1699,  and  died 
in  May,  1784.  He  was  a  native  of  Kincardine  O'Neil.  His  wife,  Janet 
Catanach,  died  5th  May,  1779,  aged  77,  and  was  interred  in  the  graveyard,  a 
headstone  marking  the  spot.  Several  rhyming  epitaphs  on  stones  in  the  old 
churchyard  are  attributed  to  the  poet,  and  they  possess  no  little  merit. 

A  new  Parish  Church  was  erected  in  1803  on  the  peninsula  between  the 
Mark  and  the  Brawny,  about  a  mile  to  the  east  of  the  old  kirk ;  and  a  comfort- 


322  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

able  manse  stands  near  to  the  cliurch.  The  site  of  the  manse  is  called  Droustie, 
and  near  by  it  is  a  fountain  called  Droustie's  Well.  As  these  are  corruptions 
of  St  Drostan,  it  may  be  inferred  where  his  residence  had  been.  The 
name  has  been  retained  for  more  than  a  thousand  years.  The  saint  was 
of  the  blood  Royal  of  Scotland,  and  he  was  Abbot  of  Donegal,  in  Ireland.  His 
feast  is  held  on  1 1th  July. 

There  is  little  known  about  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  Glenesk  from  the 
time  of  St  Drostan  down  to  the  Reformation.  It  was  a  chaplainry  of  the  parish 
of  Lethnot,  and  the  minister  of  that  parish  preached  at  Lochlee  every  third 
Sabbath. 

In  1574  Edzell,  Dunloppie,  Lethnot,  Lochley,  and  Navar  were  served  by 
one  minister.  Master  James  Foularton,  minister,  persone,  and  vicare  (sus- 
tenand  his  reidare).  The  stipend  was  £120  Scots,  and  kirk  lands.  William 
Hay  was  then  reidare  at  Lochley,  salary  £16  Scots.  (Mis.  Wod.  Soc,  p.  350.) 
The  reader  at  Lochlee  had,  in  addition  to  his  duties  as  schoolmaster,  to  exhort 
the  people  when  the  minister  was  absent.  The  reader's  salary  was  subse- 
quently increased  by  the  laird  of  Edzell.  The  Church  of  Lochlee  is  not  men- 
tioned in  the  Old  Taxation. 

At  the  time  when  Lochlee  was  formed  into  a  separate  parish  the  whole  of 
the  people  in  Lochlee,  Edzell,  and  Lethnot  were  either  Episcopalians  or 
Roman  Catholics.  Holding  these  religious  principles,  the  entire  district 
favoured  the  Stuarts,  and  many  of  the  male  inhabitants  being  keen  Jacobites, 
joined  the  rebel  armies  in  the  "  1715"  and  some  in  "  1745."  Since  that  period 
Episcopacy  has  thriven  in  the  Grien,  and  service  has  been  since  then  as  regu- 
larly conducted  as  possible.  In  1745  the  Royalists  burned  the  meeting  house 
and  carried  off  the  clergyman;  Rev.  Mr  Rose,  to  Montrose  a  prisoner,  and 
there  put  him  on  board  a  frigate.  There  was  a  neat  little  church  and  parson- 
age at  Tarfside,  but  a  new  and  much  larger  church  has  been  erected,  the 
foundation  stone  of  which  was  laid  with  much  ceremony  by  the  late  Bishop 
Forbes  of  Brechin. 

A  handsome  Free  Church,  with  a  neat  spire,  stands  on  a  commanding  posi- 
tion on  the  side  of  the  road  leading  up  the  glen,  near  to  Tarfside.  It  is  a 
prominent  object  in  the  landscape,  seen  from  many  points,  and  adds  to  its 
beauty.  A  commodious  manse  nestles  in  a  sheltered  spot,  surrounded  by 
thriving  natural  and  planted  trees,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  church.  The  late 
Fox  Maule,  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  contributed  largely  to  the  erection  of  church 
and  manse. 


Chap.  XXXVIL]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- LOCHLEE.  223 

A  davoch  of  land  in  the  pretty  district  of  Cairncross,  in  this  vicinity,  was 
given  by  Morgund,  son  of  Abbe  (the  lay  Abbot  of  Brechin),  to  his  son, 
Michael,  in  the  year  1230. 

In  1723,  when  Lethnot  and  Navar  were  united,  Glenesk  was  erected  into  a 
separate  parish  under  the  name  of  Lochlee.  Glenesk — Gleannuisqe,  "  the 
glen  of  water."     Lochlee,  Lochle — "  the  smooth  lake." 

After  the  district  was  erected  into  a  parish,  a  manse  had  to  be  erected  for 
the  minister.  The  Presbytery  met  at  Brechin  on  13th  April,  1726.  In 
designating  a  manse  at  Lochlee  the  Presbytery  gave  it  as  their  opinion  "  that 
the  manse  should  be  slated  and  made  as  strong  as  possible,  in  regard  that 
country  being  in  the  mouth  of  the  Highlands  is  much  liable  to  the  incursions 
of  robbers  from  the  Highlands,  called  in  Scotland  the  cateran,  who  frequently 
come  down  to  plunder  houses  and  drive  away  prays  of  cattle."  The  minister  of 
Lochlee  lived  in  the  old  Castle  of  Invermark  until  a  manse  was  built  for  him. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Alexander  Boss,  the  author  of  the  fine  pastoral 
tale  entitled,  "  Helenore,  or  The  Fortunate  Shepherdess,"  was  married  and 
appointed  schoolmaster  of  Lochlee.  The  resolution  of  the  Presbytery  shows 
that,  although  the  poet  describes  imaginary  scenes,  the  visits  of  the  cateran  to 
the  district  about  that  period  were  of  too  frequent  occurrence,  and  the  poor 
tenants  of  the  glens  suffered  seriously  from  their  raids.  The  poem  is  in  the 
dialect  of  the  period  in  the  district,  the  descriptive  parts  are  graphic,  the 
rhyme  is  smooth,  the  story  pleasing  and  instructive,  as  it  shows  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  period,  and  we  recommend  all  to  read  it. 

Glenesk  suffered  terribly  at  the  hands  of  the  Marquis  of  Montrose.  In  his 
flight  before  the  Parliamentary  army  he  took  refuge  in  the  Glen  in  1645,  and 
his  troops  were  quartered  upon  the  people.  The  soldiers  killed  or  drove  off 
the  cattle,  consumed  the  corns,  and  what  tliey  could  not  eat  or  carry  away 
they  burned,  and  utterly  laid  waste  the  district,  to  the  ruin  of  the  poor  tenants 
and  of  the  laird  of  Edzell.     They  also  burned  the  church  to  the  ground. 

The  ancient  lords  of  Glenesk  also  possessed  the  lands  of  Edzell  and  licthnot. 
The  first  known  of  these  is  the  family  called  "  de  Glenesk."  Tliey  Avere 
followed  by  the  Stirlings,  who  were  succeeded  by  the  Lindsays,  and  they,  in 
turn,  gave  place  to  the  Maules  in  1714.  In  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of 
Edzell,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  215-25,  we  gave  some  account  of  these  families. 
David  II.  granted  charter  by  Kobert,  son  of  Duncan,  Earl  of  Athole,  to 
Alexander  Menzies  of  Fothergill,  upon  the  marriage  of  Jean,  daughter  of  the 
said  Eobert,  one  of  the  heirs  of  Glenesk.     (In.  to  Ch.,  51-46.) 


224  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Contemporary  witli  tlie  Glenesks,  if  not  prior  to  them,  there  was  a  family 
in  the  district  called  Abbe  who  had  a  proprietary  intei;est  in  it.  There  are 
three  charters  in  the  cartulary  of  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  in  which  they  appear. 

By  the  first  John  Abbe,  the  son  of  Malise,  grants  to  the  Abbots  of  the 
Monastery  of  Arbroath  a  right  to  cut  wood  and  burn  it  for  charcoal,  in  their 
wood  of  Edale  (Edzell).  The  second  is  a  confirmation  of  the  charter  by 
William  the  Lion  ;  and  the  third  is  a  confirmation  of  the  grant  by  Morgund, 
the  son  of  John.  The  charters  are  not  dated,  but  the  witnesses  afford  evidence 
that  they  were  granted  between  1204  and  1211.  These  charters  show  that 
part  of  Edzel  had  then  been  a  forest.  Probably  the  forest  of  Kilgery,  in  the 
adjoining  parish  of  Menmuir,  had  extended  into  the  parish  of  Edzell.  There 
is  little  more  known  about  tliese  Abbes  than  the  charters  reveal.  The  name 
may  have  been  assumed  from  their  ofilice,  and  the  charters  testify  to  the 
importance  of  the  family.  (l"veg.  de  Aberb.,  pp.  47-8-9.)  About  the  same 
period  Maurice  Abbe  of  Abereloth  (Arbirlot)  witnesses  the  charter  by  Gilchrist, 
Earl  of  Angus,  conveying  the  Churcli  of  Monifieth  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath, 
1201-7  (do.,  p.  29),  and  Doneklus,  Abbe  de  Brechin,  gifted  part  of  the  lands 
of  Bolshan  to  the  Convent  of  Arbroath  (do.,  pp.  7,  49,  50,  134), 

A  third  family  named  Adzel  of  that  ilk  had  also  an  interest  in  the  district 
about  the  same  period.  There  is  little  known  about  them,  and  it  is  likely  they 
may  have  been  vassals  of  the  old  lords  of  Glenesk,  as  were  those  of  their  name 
at  an  after  period  of  the  Lindsays. 

Glenesk,  as  well  as  the  other  properties  of  the  Earl  of  Panmure,  was  for- 
feited in  1716.  They  were  bought  back  by  William  the  fifth  (Irish)  Earl  on 
20th  February,  1764,  the  price  paid  being  £49,157  18s  4d.  Through  the 
failure  of  heirs  male  they  passed  to  the  Ramsays,  and  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  these  extensive  properties. 

The  Earl  of  Dalhousie  erected  a  large,  commodious,  handsome  shooting 
lodge  on  the  rising  ground  a  short  distance  north  of  the  Lee  after  it  leaves  the 
loch,  and  to  the  west  of  the  Mark.  It  commands  a  fine  prospect  of  the  loch 
and  the  surrounding  mountains — up  the  Mark  to  Mount  Keen,  and  down 
Glenesk.  It  is  surrounded  by  thriving  plantations ;  and  the  old  Castle  of 
Invermark  rears  its  lofty  walls,  but  roofless  head,  directly  in  front  of,  but  on  a 
lower  base  than  the  lodge,  from  which  it  is  a  grand  object  in  the  landscape. 

The  age  of  Invermark  Castle  is  not  known,  but  as  it  has  a  heavy  door  of 
grated  iron,  similar  in  its  make  and  form  to  one  which,  until  a  recent  period, 
was  on  the  finely  built  castle  of  Auchinleck,  or  Affleck,  in  the  parish  of 


Ohap.  XXXVII.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOCHLEE.  225 

Monikie,  to  one  which  is  still  on  the  grand  old  castle  of  Inverquharity,  in  the 
parish  of  Kirriemuir,  and  to  another  on  Braco  Castle,  in  the  parish  of  Kiunell, 
it  is  probable  that  they  are  all  about  the  same  age.  In  the  time  of  James  II. 
no  one  was  allowed  to  put  an  iron  yett,  or  gate,  or  door  upon  his  house  or 
fortalice  without  a  special  license  from  the  King.  The  date  of  the  license 
granted  by  the  King  to  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  still  preserved 
among  the  archives  of  the  family,  corresponds  to  the  year  1444.  These  four 
castles  had  therefore  probably  been  all  built  about  the  same  time. 

Invermark  Castle  stands  upona  rising  ground  on  the  north  side  of  the  Lee,  and 
in  the  peninsula  formed  by  the  j  unction  of  that  river  and  the  Mark.  It  is  a  square 
tower  of  four  storeys  in  height,  wholly  built  of  the  rough  granite  found  in  the 
neighbourhood,  with  the  exception  of  the  liutels  of  the  doors  and  windows.  It 
is  entered  by  a  door  in  the  second  floor,  the  approach  to  which  is  by  a  strong 
stone  stair,  built  twelve  feet  apart  from  the  castle,  and  a  heavy  drawbridge,  one 
end  of  which  rested  on  the  stair  and  the  other  in  the  wall  of  the  castle.  This 
drawbridge  was  raised  and  lowered  by  machinery,  so  that  the  tower  could  be 
rendered  inaccessible  by  the  inmates.  As  a  further  protection  to  the  occupants, 
the  iron  yett  was,  and  still  is,  hung  upon  this  door,  inside  of  which  was  a 
strong  oaken  door.  The  interior  of  the  castle,  above  the  arched  roof  of  the 
vault,  has  been  gutted.  A  fine  turret  projects  from  one  of  the  corners,  and  a 
small  tree,  rooted  in  the  top  of  one  of  the  walls,  seems  to  thfive  in  mid  air, 
and  turret  and  tree  and  the  peaked  gables  help  to  relieve  the  monotony  of 
the  bare  walls,  in  which  there  are  a  few  well  formed  windows,  bat  of  different 
sizes.  The  castle  was  surrounded  by  outhouses  until  1803,  when  they  were 
removed,  and  the  materials  used  in  the  building  of  the  church. 

During  the  wars  of  the  Scottish  Independence,  the  noble  Bruce  led  an  army 
into  the  Highlands,  captured  Inverness  and  other  strongholds.  Thereafter 
he  turned  to  the  south  again,  passing  in  his  way  from  Aberdeenshire  throuo-h 
Glenesk.  Comyn,  Earl  of  Buchan,  with  whom  was  Sir  John  Mowbray,  and 
the  King's  nephew.  Sir  David  de  Brechin,  with  a  large  force,  harassed  the 
King  in  his  journey  southward  from  Inverness.  They  pursued  him  from 
Aberdeenshire,  and  overtook  the  King  and  his  small  force  in  the  glen  on  25th 
December,  1307. 

One  account  says  that  the  two  armies  fought  on  the  Rowan  Hill,  and  points 

to  the  cairnS;  which  are  numerous  on  the  east  side  of  the  hill,  as  the  graves  ot 

those  who  fell  at  that  bloody  battle,  in  which  The  Bruce  and  his  forces  were 

the  victors ;  and  to  a  stone  standing  by  the  side  of  the  old  road  across  the 

2  F 


226  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIKE.  [Part  XIV. 

Rowan  with  a  cross  upon  it,  on  which  tradition  says  Bruce  planted  his  standard. 
Another  account  says  that  the  King  drew  up  his  men  in  a  narrow  place,  and 
waited  the  attack  of  Comyn.  Comyn  drew  out  his  army,  thinking  that  on  the 
sight  of  it  Bruce  would  retreat  to  the  south  or  yield.  When  he  saw  that  the 
King  kept  the  advantageous  position  he  had  chosen,  he  sued  for  a  truce,  which 
Bruce  agreed  to  grant  if  he  would  retire  from  the  contest  and  become  an 
obedient  subject.  Still  another  account  affirms  that  Comyn's  troops  fled  on 
the  approach  of  Bruce.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  noble  Bruce  passed 
through  Glenesk,  but  whether  without  or  after  fighting  is  uncertain.  About  the 
time  of  the  alleged  meeting  of  Bruce  and  Comyn  the  King's  life  was  despaired 
of.  He  would  then  avoid  battle  if  he  possibly  could,  as  he  was  unable  to  mount  his 
war  horse,  and  for  a  time  his  soldiers  had  to  carry  him  on  a  litter.  He  con- 
tinued in  a  weak  state  until  the  Battle  of  Oldmeldrum,  fought  on  22d  May, 
1308,  when  Comyn  was  defeated  with  great  slaughter. 

After  the  slaughter  of  Lord  Spynie  by  his  kinsman,  young  Edzell,  and 
Lindsay  of  Canterland,  on  the  High  Street  of  Edinburgh,  on  5th  July,  1607, 
Edzell  fled  from  justice  and  took  up  his  residence  at  the  Castle  of  AuchmuU, 
then  at  Invermark  Castle,  and  afterwards  at  a  small  fortalice  which  he  had 
erected  on  the  right  bank  of  the  North  Esk,  between  these  two  castles. 
His  father.  Lord  Edzell,  was  prohibited  from  sheltering  his  son,  under  heavy 
penalties,  and  the  Earl  of  Crawford  so  harassed  him  anent  the  murder  of 
Spynie,  by  wounding  his  servants  and  himself,  that  he  applied  to  the  King  to  be 
taken  on  trial  for  the  murder.  The  trial  was  fixed  for  6th  September,  1607, 
but  none  of  the  accusers  appeared,  and  the  matter  lay  dormant  for  a  long 
time. 

The  heartless  feeling  which  existed  among  the  lightsome  Lindsays  after  the 
slaughter  of  Lord  Spynie  will  be  seen  by  the  following  episode  : — While  young 
Edzell  was  lurking  among  the  mountains  at  the  top  of  the  glen,  he  was  one 
day  surprised  and  nearly  captured  by  his  relative,  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  a 
band  of  his  retainers,  who  had  come  in  search  of  him.  On  seeing  them  he  fled 
with  the  speed  of  a  red  deer,  and,  being  agile  and  not  encumbered  with  arms, 
he  bounded  over  a  wild  rock  or  chasm  of  the  Mark,  landed  safely  on  the 
opposite  side,  and  got  within  Invermark  Castle,  its  drawbridge  up,  and  its  iron 
yett  shut  before  his  pursuers  could  overtake  him.  Once  inside  the  fortalice, 
he  was  safe  from  such  foes.  Some  of  his  enemies,  in  their  haste  to  capture  the 
fugitive,  are  said  to  have  assayed  the  leap,  come  short  of  it,  been  dashed  against 
the  precipitous  rock  and  killed,  or  drowned  in  the  deep  whirling  pool  below. 


Chap.  XXXVII.]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOCHLEE.  227 

Since  the  time  of  this  daring  feat,  the  gulf  has  been  known  as  the  "  Eagle's 
Loup." 

Lord  Edzell  died  on  18th  January,  1611,  and  young  Edzell  was  again  re- 
ceived into  the  Church  which  had  excommunicated  him.  In  1611  Lord 
Spynie,  eldest  son  and  heir,  acting  for  his  sisters,  brought  up  the  matter  again, 
and  by  the  interference  of  mutual  friends,  Edzeli's  want  of  intention  to  murder 
Lord  Spynie  was  established,  and  Edzell,  to  end  the  whole  matter,  in  1617, 
agreed  to  give  the  lands  of  Garlowbank,  in  the  parish  of  Kirriemuir,  and  ten 
thousand  merks  to  the  heirs  of  Lord  Spynie. 

After  the  Kebellion  of  1745,  James  Carnegie,  the  rebel  laird  of  Balnamoon, 
was  hunted  by  the  Koyalists  from  his  own  house,  and  sought  shelter  in  the 
fastnesses  near  the  top  of  Glenesk.  There  his  retreat  was  a  large  cavity  with 
a  smaU  opening  near  the  foot  of  Curmaud  Hill,  still  known  as  Bonnymune's 
Cave.  Here  he  evaded  his  pursuers  for  a  long  time,  though  many  of  the 
inhabitants  well  knew  his  hidingplace,  which,  although  heavy  bribes  were 
offered,  they  would  not  disclose.  Indeed,  many  of  them  made  him  a  welcome 
guest  when  he  could  safely  visit  them.  Carnegie  was  an  Episcopalian,  and 
the  Presbyterian  minister  of  the  day  was  said  to  have  been  instrumental  in 
bringing  a  party  of  the  Campbell  Highlanders  to  the  glen  in  search  of  him. 

On  a  cold,  wet  day  the  laird,  dressed  as  a  poor  hind,  went  to  the  house  of  a 
friendly  farmer  to  dry  and  warm  himself,  and  while  seated  in  the  wide  chimney 
of  the  kitchen— common  in  some  parts  of  Strathmore  in  the  first  decades  of 
this  century — a  party  of  soldiers  entered  the  house  in  search  of  him.  The 
farmer  happily  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  and,  after  urging  the  soldiers 
to  partake  of  some  refreshments  placed  before  them,  gruffly  ordered  the  seeming 
hind  to  go  and  clean  the  byres  and  make  room  for  the  strangers.  This  he  did, 
and  was  soon  in  his  cave.  He  was  afterwards  captured,  but,  owing  to  an 
informality  in  the  proceedings,  was  set  at  liberty,  and  lived  quietly  at  Balna- 
moon. 

The  Government  of  the  day  wished  to  prohibit  the  Highlanders  from  wearing 
the  Highland  garb,  and  in  terms  of  the  instructions  issued,  the  minister  read 
the  following  orders,  extracted  from  the  parish  register: — "  1748,  Dec.  24. — 
This  day  read  an  order  prohibiting  the  wearing  that  part  of  the  Highland 
dress  called  the  plaid,  filibeg,  or  little  kilt,  after  the  25th  curt.  1749,  July  30. — 
This  day  read  from  the  latron  (lectern)  an  order  from  the  Sheriff  of  Forfar,  dis- 
charging every  part  of  the  Highland  dress  from  being  worn  after  the  1st  of 
August  next."      Soon  thereafter  Mr  Scott,  the  minister,  while  passing  near  the 


228  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

ruins  of  the  Episcopal  Chapel  on  the  Rowan,  which  had  been  burned  by  the 
army,  was  thrown  from  his  horse  and  killed  on  the  spot.  This  accident  was 
looked  upon  by  the  Episcopalians  as  retributive  justice  for  his  acts  hostile  to 
the  Jacobites. 

Among  the  huge  blocks  fallen  from  the  lofty  perpendicular  clififs  of  Graig- 
maskeldie,  some  of  them  have  so  rested  as  to  overlay  others,  forming  a  wide 
cavern  with  a  large  stone  in  the  middle  called  "  the  table,"  and  a  narrow 
entrance.  In  this  cold  gloomy  cave  a  noted  reaver  named  Gryp  long  dwelt, 
and  lived  by  plundering  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  the  district.  Gryp's 
chamber  is  not  easily  found  by  a  stranger,  and  the  road,  though  stony,  is  not 
macadamised.  Adders  are  common  among  the  stones  and  heath.  1  found  a 
pretty  fern  in  the  cave. 

In  Edward's  description  of  Angus  he  makes  mention  of  "  Johnny  Kidd's 
Hole."  In  Glenmark,  about  four  miles  west  from  Invermarkie,  there  is  a  cave 
with  a  roof  of  stone,  from  the  chinks  of  which  there  drops  some  water  which 
petrifies  into  a  substance  resembling  crystal,  of  the  form  of  diamonds  with 
three,  four,  and  six  sides.  This  cave  I  did  not  see,  but  Jervise  (L.  of  L.,  p.  84) 
says  of  it  "  that  although  nearly  two  hundred  years  have  elapsed,  the  descrip- 
tion is  yet  good,  and  may  be  safely  adopted."  The  origin  of  the  name  of  the 
hole  is  not  known.     Some  say  Johnny  was  a  freebooter,  and  others  a  shepherd. 

There  was  a  rocking  stone  in  the  vicinity  of  the  hole  called  the  Rocking 
Stone  of  Gilfumman,  but  it  has  been  removed  from  its  pivot  and  lies  unheeded 
beside  the  block  on  which  it  was  so  mysteriously  poised.  These  stones  are  the 
most  wonderful  of  the  so-called  Druidical  remains.  So  exactly  were  they 
poised  that  a  breath  of  wind  set  them  in  motion,  but  the  combined  force  of 
many  persons  could  not  remove  them  from  their  position.  They  awaken  the 
astonishment  and  admiration  of  all  who  examine  them  carefully,  combining  as 
they  do  extreme  rudeness  with  great  mechanical  skill.  Many  now  suppose 
that  rocking  stones  are  natural  objects,  and  not  artificial.  We  saw  an  artificial 
one  at  Chatsworth. 

Glenesk  is  unquestionably  in  many  respects  the  noblest  glen  in  Angus,  It 
surpasses  Glenisla  and  Clova  in  length  and  in  extent ;  in  the  picturesque  diver- 
sity of  the  mountains  which  define  its  boundaries  ;  in  the  variety  of  its  scenery, 
which  changes'with  every  turning  in  its  winding  road,  and  every  point  from 
which  it  can  be  surveyed ;  and  in  the  volume  of  water  which  passes  through  it 
to  the  ocean.  In  some  parts  it  is  richly  adorned  with  well  grown  wood  or 
thriving  plantations.       In  others  it  is  devoid  of  sylvan  accessories,  but  where 


Chap.  XXXVII.]   ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOCHLEE.  229 

this  is  the  case  there  are  well  cultivated  fields  which  bear  good  crops  of  grain, 
turnips,  potatoes,  and  the  like;  or  its  undulating  banks  are  covered  with 
swards  of  rich  natural  grass,  prized  herbage  of  flocks  of  sheep  and  herds  of 
cattle,  of  both  of  which  large  numbers  are  reared  in  the  glen. 

Near  the  river  side  occasional  patches  of  ground,  and  in  other  places  little 
hillocks,  are  covered  with  pretty  clumps  of  birch,  alder,  the  mountain  ash,  and 
other  natural  wood  indigenous  in  the  glen.  Tiiis  famous  glen  is  also  rich  in 
its  numerous  interesting  historical  scenes  and  associations.  In  summer  it  is 
visited  by  many  tourists  from  other  districts  of  Scotland,  from  England,  Ire- 
land, and  foreign  countries,  who  linger  in  it  with  delight,  and  leave  it  with 
regret.  It  is  also  the  summer  resort  of  visitors  from  the  coast  towns,  who  love 
to  spend  their  holidays  within  its  portals,  and  to  them  its  pure,  bracing,  High- 
land air  is  an  admirable  change.  It  is  "  the  happy  land"  of  fishers.  It  has 
one  great  drawback,  however — there  is  no  hotel  or  public  lodginghouse  in  the 
Glen,  and  although  there  are  several  private  houses  belonging  to  farmers, 
cottars,  and  others  where  visitors  can  be  accommodated  with  lodgings  for  a  few 
days,  or  for  the  season,  with  some  degree  of  comfort,  even  these  are  few  and 
far  between.  This  makes  accommodation  difficult  to  be  obtained,  and  when 
got  it  is  often  a  little  disappointing  to  strangers  accustomed  with  luxurious 
houses  at  home. 

The  noble  Lord,  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  Glen  above 
"the  Burn,"  would  confer  a  boon  upon  many  residenters  upon  the  coast  and 
elsewhere  were  he  to  feu  out  some  portions  of  the  ground  upon  which  good 
houses  could  be  built  for  the  use  of  summer  visitors,  and  erect,  or  permit  to  be 
erected,  a  hotel,  whether  temperance  or  not.  Tarfside  would  be  a  very  suitable 
site  for  both  village  and  hotel,  as  there  is  already  the  nucleus  of  a  village  there. 
The  hotels  in  Glenclova  and  Glenisla  have  proved  a  convenience  and  a  com- 
fort, if  not  a  blessing,  to  many,  and  so  would  a  hotel  in  Glenesk.  Tarfside  is  a 
pretty  situation  for  a  village.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  Grampians,  on  the  side 
of  the  main  road  from  Edzell  to  Lochlee,  from  which  a  bridle  path  leads  up  by 
the  Ladder  Burn  to  Ballater  and  Balmoral ;  while  from  Tarfside  another  path 
leads  to  Aboyne,  on  lower  Deeside.  Tarfside  district  already  has  its  Free  and 
Episcopal  Churches,  hall,  &c. 

The  Druidical  circles  at  Colmeallie  and  other  antiquities  in  the  glen  have 
been  already  noticed. 

A  vein  of  lead  ore  runs  through  the  parish  from  east  to  west.  A  company 
of  miners  were  employed  by  the  York  Buildings  Company  to  make  trial  of  it 


230  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

in  1728,  but  the  produce  of  lead  was   so  small  that  the  working  was  soon 
abandoned,  as  it  did  not  defray  the  expense. 

The  mountains  and  hills  are  composed  of  primitive  rocks,  of  mica-schist, 
trap,  and  limestone,  and  the  summits  of  the  highest  mountains  are  granite. 
The  strata  generally  dip  in  an  easterly  direction,  following  the  course  of  the 
North  Esk.  A  collection  of  cairns  near  the  school,  which  stand  within  the 
district  of  Carncross,  probably  mark  one  of  the  burial  places  of  the  early 
tribes.  On  a  pillar  stone  on  Rowan  Hill  is  sculptured  a  cross  of  primitive 
type,  which  may  have  commemorated  a  Christian  burial  in  the  transition  period 
when  the  Pagan  custom  of  cairn  burial  had  not  given  way  to  the  Christian 
rule,  which  was  to  have  interments  in  hallowed  ground  around  the  church. 

Fox  Maule,  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  erected  a  large  cairn  upon  the  top  of 
the  Rowan  Hill,  in  Glenesk.  The  site  is  finely  chosen,  being  a  prominent 
object  in  ascending  the  Glen,  and  from  the  cairn  the  prospect  is  magnificent. 
The  ascent  to  it  from  Tarfside,  and  in  descending  the  Glen  from  Lochlee,  is 
easy.     It  is  called  "  Maule's  Cairn,"  and  it  bears  the  following  inscription  : — 

MAULE'S  CAIRN, 
Erected    A.D.    1866, 

BY 

FOX,  EARL  OF  DALHOUSIE,  K.T.,  G.C.B., 

IN    MEMORY    OF 

The  Right  Hon.  MONTAGU,  Baroness  Panmure  ; 

The  Hon.  Col.  LAUDERDALE  MAULE,  M.P. ; 

The  Hon.  WILLIAM  MAULE  MAULE  ; 

The  Lady  PATRICIA  YOUNG  ; 

The  Lady  RAMSxAY  ; 

The  Lady  MARY  HAMILTON  ; 

The  Lady  GEORGINA  DOWBIGGIN; 

AS   ALSO   OF 

Lady  RAMSAY  MACDONALD ; 
The  Lady  CHRISTIAN  MAULE, 
And  HIMSELF, 
"When  it  shall  please  God  to  call  them  hence- 
(With  an  Earl's  coronet  below.) 
The  Earl  died  at  Brechin  Castle  on  6th  July,  1874. 

The  parish  of  Lochlee  is  about  fifteen  miles  in  length  from  east  to  west,  and 
about  seven  miles  in  mean  breadth,  but  the  inhabited  part  does  not  ezceed 


Chap.  XXXVII.]    ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOCHLEE.  231 

ei_o;ht  miles  in  length,  and  three  and  a  half  miles  in  breadth.  It  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  parishes  of  Birse,  Aboyne,  and  Glenrauick,  in  Aberdeen- 
shire ;  on  the  east  by  Edzell ;  on  the  south  by  the  united  parishes  of  Lethnot 
and  Navar  ;  and  on  the  west  by  Cortachy  and  Clova.  Its  form  is  a  parallelo- 
gram. It  is  embosomed  among  the  Grampians,  being  a  purely  Highland 
parish.  For  five  months  in  the  year  the  climate  is  very  enjoyable  and  very 
healthful.  In  the  new  Statistical  Account  it  is  said  the  rainbow,  halo,  and 
particularly  the  polar  lights  sometimes  make  a  brilliant  appearance. 

There  are  58,678'359  acres  in  the  parish,  of  which  296-452  are  water. 

It  is  mentioned  in  the  old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  that  the  spring 
of  1782  was  exceedingly  cold  and  wet,  the  wind  generally  blowing  from  the 
north-east.  In  May  fever  made  its  appearance  in  the  parish,  and  in  the  space 
of  six  weeks  thirty-five  persons  were  cut  off.  The  greater  part  of  those  who 
died  were  thirty  years  of  age  and  upward,  and  none  died  under  eighteen.  The 
symptoms  were  similar  to  what  accompanies  inflammation  of  the  pleura. 
Persons  affected  had  their  saliva  mixed  with  blood  within  a  few  hours  after 
the  fever  seized  them  ;  they  felt  pain  at  or  below  their  left  pap,  and  died  on 
the  fifth  or  sixth  day.  The  pain  was  not  acute,  nor  did  it  affect  their  breath- 
ing so  much  as  is  commonly  the  case  in  a  pleuritic  fever.  Only  two  persons 
recovered  of  all  who  were  attacked.  About  six  per  cent,  of  the  population 
appears  to  have  died  of  the  disease  within  the  six  weeks  it  lasted. 

The  Account  also  mentions  that  in  June  and  July  more  than  120  persons 
traversed  the  parish  yearly  begging  wool.  Some  of  them  appeared  to  be  objects 
of  charity,  but  many  seemed  to  be  of  a  different  character.  They  were  from 
Dundee,  Arbroath,  Montrose,  Brechin,  and  Aberdeen.  The  population  of  the 
parish  wore  Forfar  brogues,  or  black  leather  shoes,  made  of  coarse  leather. 
One  shoemaker  was  then  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  the  parish. 

The  parish  then  abounded  with  foxes,  which  were  very  destructive  to  the 
young  sheep.  There  were  also  many  badgers  and  wild  cats  among  the  rocks 
and  cairns,  but  they  did  little  harm  to  the  sheep.  There  were  plenty  of  white 
hares  and  a  few  deer.  The  rocks  abounded  with  eagles  and  hawks,  and  the 
hills  with  grouse. 

The  farmers  in  Lochlee  paid  their  rents  forehand.  The  crop  of  1792  was 
paid  one  half  at  Whitsunday,  1791,  and  the  other  half  at  Martinmas,  1792. 

The  farmhouse  and  steading  of  Inchgrundle  is  close  by  the  top  of  the 
picturesque  Lochlee.  There  the  late  venerable  and  worthy  Reverend  Thomas 
Guthrie,  the  originator  of  Eagged  Schools,  was  wont  to  spend  his  autumn 


232  ANGUS  OE  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

holidays  for  many  years,  until  declining  health  kept  him  nearer  home.  Weather 
permitting,  he  was  out  on  the  loch  daily,  fishing  for  the  delicious  trout  with 
which  it  is  stocked,  or  rowing  on  the  water  for  exercise.  His  friend  the  late 
Fox  Maule,  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  when  residing  at  Invermark,  was  often  his 
companion  on  the  loch,  in  strolls  on  its  banks,  or  in  the  beautiful  scenery 
and  invigorating  air  of  the  district.  The  Doctor  was  idolised  in  the  Glen,  and 
he  was  equally  at  home  among  the  people,  and  among  the  grand  and  lofty 
mountains  at  the  top  of  Lochlee. 

In  1746  the  Castle  of  Edzell  was  occupied  by  a  party  of  Cumberland's 
troops,  under  M.  de  Voisel,  a  refugee  French  officer,  and  when  it  cost  some 
pains  to  save  Glenesk  from  being  burned  from  end  to  end/being  a  nest  of 
Jacobites.  About  20th  March,  1746,  the  Duke  of  Cumberland  ordered  Major 
La  Fausille,  with  300  men,  to  go  to  Glenesk,  which  is  one  of  the  most  rebellious 
parts,  to  attack  all  whom  he  might  find  in  arms  against  the  Government,  and 
to  burn  the  habitations  of  such  as  had  left  them  and  were  with  the  rebels. 
Accordingly  the  Major  disarmed  all  the  rebels  in  Clova  and  Glenesk. 

Chap.  XXXVIII.— LOGIE  PERT. 

The  Church  of  Logy  was  dedicated  to  St  ]\Iartin  by  David,  Bishop  of  St 
Andrews,  under  the  name  of  "  Logic  Cuthil,"  in  1243.  It  is  called  "Logy- 
montrois"  in  the  Kegister  of  Ministers  in  1574.  It  was  then  served  along 
with  the  Kirks  of  Pert,  Menmure,  and  Feme,  by  one  minister,  Mr  Williame 
Gray — who  paid  his  own  reidare  of  Logymontrois— stipend,  £188  15s  6f  d 
Scots.  (Miss.  Wod.  Socy.,  p.  349.)  He  is  highly  praised  by  the  celebrated 
James  Melville  in  his  diary.  John  Wilson,  reader  at  Pert,  salary,  £16  Scots. 
The  parish  is  rated  at  £10  in  the  Old  Taxation.  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  239.) 

The  parish  of  Pert  is  not  found  in  the  Old  Taxation,  it  being  of  compara- 
tively modern  erection.  The  kirk  is  first  mentioned  about  three  centuries 
ago,  and  both  church  and  parish  were  probably  erected  by  Superintendent 
Erskine,  the  greater  part  of  the  parish  being  on  the  Dun  estate. 

It  was  first  proposed  to  unite  the  churches  and  parishes  of  Logic  and  Pert 
in  1645,  but  it  was  not  until  1661  that  the  union  was  ratified  by  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment. Since  then  the  united  parishes  have  been  known  as  Logie  Pert.  The 
patronage  of  Logie  belonged  to  the  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  and  that  of 
the  united  parish  was  exercised  by  the  Crown  and  St  Mary's  College,  St 
Andrews,  alternately.  The  members  of  the  united  church  are  now  the  patrons 
in  this  parish  as  in  others  throughout  the  country. 


Chap.  XXXVIII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOGIE  PERT.  233 

The  churches  ia  both  parishes  were  kept  up  and  served  by  one  minister,  who 
probably  officiated  in  each  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  The  present  church  of  tho 
united  parish  was  rebuilt  in  1840,  on  the  site  of  a  previous  cluirch,  built  iu 
1775.  It  is  about  equidistant  from  the  two  old  churches,  and  conveniently 
placed  for  the  whole  parishioners. 

The  old  church  and  burial  ground  of  Logic  are  in  a  secluded  and  romantic 
hollow  close  by  the  North  Esk.  Near  to  these  is  a  fine  spring,  called  St 
Martin's  Well.  The  principal  scene  of  Beattie's  poem,  in  the  provincial 
dialect  of  the  district,  of  "  John  o'  Arnha,"  is  laid  at  the  kirk  and  graveyard. 
The  old  church  was,  in  1S57,  restored  as  a  burial  place  for  the  Carnegies  of 
Craigo,  and  it  is  now  a  picturesque  building,  and  finished  with  good  taste. 
Over  the  doorway  are  two  shields,  the  one  charged  with  the  Carnegie  arms, 
and  the  other  with  those  of  Grant  and  Macpherson  quarterly.  In  St  Martin's 
Den,  in  which  is  the  Saint's  Well,  there  is  a  plain  but  neat  Free  Church, 
called  "  the  Den  Kirk." 

There  is  a  great  contrast  between  the  old  Church  of  Pert  and  the  new 
Church  of  Logie  Pert.  The  old  church  and  graveyard  are  on  the  north  side 
of,  and  adjoining  to  the  highway  leading  from  Brechin  to  Laurencekirk  and 
onwards.  It  is  within  a  short  distance  of  the  North  Esk,  which  here  runs  to 
the  east,  and  is  spanned  by  the  North  Water  Bridge  on  the  road  between 
these  towns. 

The  church  is  roofless  and  ivy- covered,  but  the  walls  remain  nearly  entire. 
It  is  quite  a  small  building,  the  walls  low,  the  windows  narrow,  admitting 
little  light,  and  the  interior  must  have  been  very  dingy.  The  principal 
windows  are  two  in  the  east  gable,  and  two  small  ones  in  the  south  wall.  In 
this  wall,  and  close  by  the  west  gable,  is  a  hole  about  fifteen  inches  square, 
adjoining  which  is  another  opening  like  a  door,  but  only  some  three  to  four 
feet  high,  by  half  that  width.  What  these  were  for  is  uncertain.  There  is  a 
door  in  the  east  end  of  the  south  wall,  and  another  near  the  west  end  of  the 
north  wall.  Outwiththe  church,  and  close  by  this  door,  is  a  too-fall,  the  north 
wall  of  which  is  on  the  north  wall  of  the  graveyard,  the  level  of  the  burying- 
ground  being  about  ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  adjoining 
ground.  The  old  church  bell  still  hangs  in  the  small  belfrey  on  the  west  end 
of  the  church,  with  a  small  piece  of  rope  attached.  It  may  perhaps  be  rung  on 
solemn  occasions.     Pert,  1704,  is  inscribed  on  it. 

There  are  several  old  stones  in  the  graveyard,  but  they  only  record  the  names 
2  G 


234  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Paet  XIV. 

of  parishioners,  honest  men  and  women,  no  doubt^  who,  in  their  day,  filled  the 
places  now  occupied  by  the  present  generation.  One  stone,  which  attracts 
attention,  stands  near  to  the  church.  It  is  the  monument  of  John  Buchanan, 
who  died  in  1751,  and  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  1737 — the  first  and  third 
figures  are  very  small,  and  the  second  and  fourth  of  gigantic  size.  On  the 
stone,  over  the  inscription,  are  two  angels,  with  a  smaller  one  over  and  between 
the  two.  Below  the  inscription  is  an  archangel  sounding  the  last  trump, 
beside  whom  stands  Death  and  the  sand  glass.  On  the  reverse,  well  up  on  the 
stone,  is  a  circle,  around  which  stand  four  angels.  Over  the  one  on  the  top  of 
the  circle  is  the  inscription,  I  do  ring  ;  over  the  angel  who  stands  on  the  side 
of  the  circle  at  the  upper  one's  left  hand  is,  I  did  king  ;  over  the  head  of  the 
one  who  stands  on  the  under  side  of  the  circle  is,  I  once  rang  ;  and  over  the 
one  on  the  right  hand  of  the  top  figure  is,  I  shall  ring.  Underneath  the 
angels  is  a  shield  on  which  are  the  initials  J.B.  M.M.  The  angels  are  blowing 
trumpets.  The  following  couplet  is  carved  upon  a  ribbon  : — 
"  The  trumpet  shall  sound,  the  dead  shall  rise, 
To  meet  Christ  Jesus  in  the  skies." 

The  sculptures  do  not  possess  much  merit  as  works  of  art.  They  had  probably 
been  designed  and  executed  by  some  artist  of  local  merit  and  fame. 

The  new  Church  of  Logie  Pert  stands  high  up  on  the  rising  ground  which 
separates  the  South  Esk  and  the  Basin  of  Montrose  from  the  North  Esk,  and 
not  far  from  the  centre  of  the  parish.  It  is  a  neat,  rectangular  building,  with 
four  large  round-headed  windows  in  the  south  wall,  and  others  in  the  gables 
and  north  wall.  A  number  of  tombstones  stand  in  the  graveyard,  around 
which  there  are  some  large  trees.  The  manse,  partly  whitewashed,  stands  a 
little  to  the  south  of  the  church,  on  the  brink  of  a  pretty  den,  through  which 
the  Gallery  Burn  runs.  The  trees  around  shelter  the  house  and  beautify  the 
scene. 

In  old  times  a  great  market  was  held  at  the  North  Water  Bridge  upon 
Sabbath  as  well  as  week  days.  The  Brechin  Presbytery  Records,  of  date  12th 
October,  1643,  state  that  the  Sabbath  was  profaned  by  the  market  held  there, 
and  the  minister  of  Pert  was  ordained  to  take  notice  of  those  who  frequented  the 
fair,  and  inform  their  ministers  that  they  might  be  punished  as  Sabbath 
breakers. 

*'  Logie"  is  said  to  be  of  Gaelic  origin,  and  to  signify  "  a  flat  or  low  situa- 
tion," which  certainly  agrees  with  the  site  of  the  old  Church  of  Logie,  it  being 
in  a  hollow.    Pert  is  of  uncertain  derivation. 


Chap.  XXXVIIL]  ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— LOGIE  PERT.  235 

The  parish  is  elliptical  in  form,  about  five  miles  in  extreme  length  from  east 
to  west,  and  about  three  miles  in  breadth  from  north  to  south.  The  parish 
contains  5,807*934  acres,  of  which  68"699  are  water.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
east  by  Montrose,  on  the  south  by  Dun,  on  the  west  by  Stracathro,  and  the 
North  Esk  separates  the  parish  from  Marykirk  and  St  Cyrus  on  the  north  and 
east.  At  this  point  the  river  makes  a  beautiful  curve,  and  it  is  a  splendid 
object  in  the  landscape  for  the  entire  distance  in  which  it  bounds  the  parish. 

The  air  is  generally  salubrious,  and  although  there  are  fogs  which  come  up 
from  the  sea  occasionally,  they  do  little  injury.  In  1787-88  a  malignant 
fever  was  for  some  time  prevalent  in  the  parish,  of  which  a  considerable 
number  of  people  died.  Delirium  ensued  about  the  fourth  or  fifth  day  after 
the  attack,  and  the  patient  was  cut  off  within  a  week  thereafter.  Few  people 
over  30  years  of  age  recovered.  In  1648  the  plague  raged  in  the  parish  with 
fatal  efiect. 

The  old  bridge  connecting  Angus  and  the  Mearns  in  this  parish  is  a  very 
strong  structure  of  three  arches.  It  was  built  by  John  Erskine  of  Dun, 
Superintendent  of  Angus,  fully  three  centuries  ago.  Regarding  this  structure 
popular  tradition  says  he  had  a  dream  or  vision  that  unless  he  should  build  a 
bridge  over  Stormy  Grain,  where  three  waters  ran  in  one,  he  would  be  miser- 
able after  death.  Going  out  in  a  pensive  mood  one  day  and  walking  along 
the  banks  of  the  North  Esk.  he  met  an  old  woman  near  the  spot  where  the 
bridge  stands,  and  asking  the  name  of  the  place,  she  told  him  it  was  called 
Stormy  Grain,  where  three  waters  run  in  one.  Recognising  this  to  be  the 
spot  to  which  his  dream  alluded,  he  immediately  set  about  building  a  bridge 
there.  After  the  bridge  was  founded  and  partly  constructed,  a  spate  in  the 
river  carried  it  away.  He  commenced  to  the  bridge  again,  and  again  it  was 
carried  away.  This  so  discouraged  him  that  he  kept  his  bed.  While  there 
he  one  day  saw  a  spider  commence  to  weave  a  web,  but  it  fell  down.  A  second 
attempt  also  failed,  but  it  succeeded  in  the  third  attempt.  Encouraged  by 
this,  he  commenced  a  third  time  to  build  the  bridge,  and  succeeded  in  erecting 
the  handsome  structure  which  has  stood  every  flood  to  the  present  time. 

The  bridge,  which  crosses  the  North  Esk  a  little  above  Craigo,  and  connects 
Angus  with  the  Mearns  in  the  vicinity  of  Marykirk,  is  an  elegant  structure  of 
four  arches.     It  was  built  in  1814. 

There  are  three  large  tumuli  in  the  parish,  known  as  the  Three  Laws  of 
Craigo,  which  are  situated  about  a  mile  west  from  the  mansion  house  of 
Craigo.    On  opening  one  of  these  a  stone  coffin,  containing  a  human  skeleton 


236'  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

almost  entire,  the  bcnes^of  very  large  size,  of  a  deep  yellow  colour,  and  very 
brittle,  was  found.  In  another  tumulus  four  human  skeletons  of  gigantic 
proportions  were  found  about  a  foot  below  the  surface.  Near  to  the  bodies  a 
ring  of  bhck  ebony,  about  four  inches  in  diameter,  and  in  perfect  preservation, 
was  found.  The  ring  was  flat  in  the  inside  and  rounded  without,  finely 
polished,  and  very  beautiful.  An  urn  full  of  ashes  was  found  near  to  the 
bodies  in  the  tumulus. 

The  three  Laws  of  Logic,  with  the  adjoining  ground,  were  enclosed  and 
planted  by  the  proprietor  of  Logic  before  the  last  decade  of  last  century.  A 
short  distance  due  east  of  these  Laws  were  three  large  standing  stones,  and  not 
far  off  other  two  similar  stones.  Farther  to  the  east  were  the  remains  of  a 
circular  sort  of  building  about  sixteen  yards  in  diameter.  The  ground  around 
these  stones  was  trenched,  but  no  antiquities  of  consequence  were  found. 

A  John  Wyld  was  Eector  of  Logic  in  1372.  Alexander  Forrest,  Provost 
of  the  Kirk  of  Fowlis  Easter,  is  designed  Eector  of  Logie,  Montrose,  in  1555. 

It  was  here,  when  his  relative  William  Gray  was  pastor  of  the  parish,  that 
the  celebrated  James  Melville,  at  the  age  of  seven,  and  his  brother  David  were 
sent  to  be  educated.  There  the  brothers  were  carefully  instructed,  and  James 
describes  his  residence  in  the  manse  as  "  a  happie  and  golden  tyme,"  it  being 
here  that  he  first  "fandthe  spirit  of  sanctification  beginning  to  work  sum 
motiones"  in  his  heart.  William  Cruden,  who  was  some  time  minister  of 
Logic  Pert,  was  the  author  of  two  volumes  of  sacred  poetry  whicli  were  pub- 
lished between  17G0  and  1770. 

Near  to  the  old  kirk  of  Pert  James  Mill,  the  historian  of  British  India,  was 
born  on  6th  April,  1773,  his  father  being  a  small  crofter.  His  cottage  stood 
near  the  south  end  of  the  North  Water  Bridge  until  about  the  middle  of  this 
century.     John  Stuart  Mill,  the  son  of  James  Mill,  died  recently. 

The  lands  of  Craigo  and  others  in  the  parish  appear  to  have  been  divided 
into  small  proprietary  holdings,  in  possession  of  various  proprietors  previous  to 
the  purchase  of  the  estate  by  the  ancestors  of  the  present  owners.  The  Fullar- 
tons,  perhaps  cadets  of  the  family  of  that  ilk,  owned  part  of  the  property  in 
the  sixteenth  century.  On  14th  March,  1607,  Alexander  Fullarton,  heir  of 
his  father,  Alexander,  portioner  of  Craigo,  was  retoured  (No.  53)  in  part  of 
the  lands  of  Craigo.  On  23d  June,  1618,  William  Fullarton  of  that  ilk,  heir 
of  Sir  William  of  that  ilk,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  103)  in  the  ninth  part 
of  the  lands  of  Craigo,  called  Scrymgeour's  lands  ;  and  in  the  eighth  part  of 
the  shadow  half  of  the  lands  of  Logie-Montrose,  in  the  lordship  of  Kescobie ; 


Chap.  XXXVIII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOGIE  PERT.  237 

the  temple  lands  and  town  of  Temple-Logy  ;  Ardoch^  and  other  lands.  It  is 
probable  that  a  branch  of  the  Scrj^mgeours  had  owned  the  property  at  an 
earlier  period,  from  the  land  being  called  by  their  name. 

The  lands  of  Logic,  or  Logie-Montrose,  as  they  were  usually  called  in  the 
sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  were  in  possession  of  members  of  the 
family  of  Dun  in  the  sixteenth  century,  John  Erskine  was  designed  of  Logic 
in  1585.  The  lands  appear  to  have  been  divided  into  small  portions  about 
that  time.  On  14th  November,  1601,  George  Hardie,  heir  of  his  father 
Alexander,  was  retoured  (No.  25)  in  the  sunny  quarter  and  the  shadow  eighth 
part  of  the  lands  of  Logie-Montrose.  On  20th  April,  1605,  Wilham  Fullar- 
ton  of  Ardo,  heir  of  his  father,  William  of  Ardo,  was  retoured  (No.  593)  in 
the  eighth  part  of  the  lands  of  Craigowis — A.E.,  15s  ;  N.E.,  £3  ;  eighth  and 
sixteenth  parts  of  same  lands  ;  shadow  fourth  and  eighth  parts  of  the  lands  of 
Logie-Montrose  ;  and  shadow  half  of  the  lands  of  Tolmonds.  On  8th  July, 
1615,  Robert  Leighton  of  Ulishaven  succeeded  his  father,  Robert  (Ret.  82),  in 
the  sunny  half  of  Tolmondis.  On  16th  March,  1627,  John  Lichton  succeeded 
his  grandfather,  Robert,  in  same  lands— A.E.,  10s  ;  N.E.,  40s  (Ret.  167).  On 
23d  June,  1618,  William  FuUarton  of  that  ilk  was  retoured  (No.  103)  in  the 
shadow  half  of  these  lands.  Some  of  the  names  of  the  lands  given  above  have 
since  then  been  changed,  and  we  are  not  able  to  identify  them. 

James  Scott  of  Logie  was  a  well-known  name  in  part  of  the  seventeenth  and 
eighteenth  centuries.  He  is  proprietor  of  one  half  the  parish  of  Pert,  and 
two-fifths  of  Logie  in  1683  Roll.  Some  account  of  the  family  was  given  in 
Vol.  II.,  p.  153.     The  property  remained  in  the  family  for  a  long  period. 

James  Scott  of  Logie  was  Member  of  the  Committee  of  Estates  in  the 
Scottish  Parliament,  1640-1,  from  1693  to  1702,  1703  to  1707,  and  1722  to 
1727  (Vol.  II ,  pp.  213-16-19).  Some  of  his  sons,  proprietors  of  Dunninald 
and  other  lands  in  the  parish  of  Craig,  were  also  leading  men  in  the  county, 
and  were  frequently  returned  to  serve  in  Parliament. 

The  first  James  Scott  of  Logie  was  succeeded  by  his  son  of  same  name. 

On  29th  April,  1649,  James  Scott,  heir  of  his  father,  James,  was  retoured 
(No.  376)  in  the  lands  of  Logie-Montrose,  comprehending  the  town  and  lands 
of  Mylnehill  and  Tolmondis  ;  the  mill  and  mill  lands  of  Logie-Montrose,  with 
salmon  fishings,  cruives,  and  ferry  boat  upon  the  water  of  North  Esk,  E.  17m 
20d  of  feu- duty ;  the  sunny  half  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Hedderwick  and 
Cleylick— O.E.  25s,  N.E.  £5 ;  the  half  of  the  lands  of  Craigo,  called  the 


238  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Pari  XIV. 

Laws  of  Craigo  and  Hill  of  Craigo,  compreliending  one  sixtb,  eighth,  ninth, 
and  sixteenth  parts  of  the  lands  of  Craigo— O.E.  30s,  N.E.  £6 ;  the  lands 
of  Charltoun,  with  fishings  in  the  dams  of  Charltoun — O.E.  20s,  A.E.  £4. 

In  1683  the  lands  in  Logie  parish  were  in  possession  of  three  lairds — Logie, 
James  Scott,  valued  rent,  £850  ;  James  Carnegy,  Craigo,  £600 ;  and  Galraw, 
^6566  13s  4d— in  all,  £2016  13s  4d  ;  and  Pert,  £1700;  together,  £3716 
13s  4d.  Before  1748  the  lands  in  Logie  were  divided  between  Carnegy  of 
Craigo,  £1143  15s,  and  Lyall  of  Galraw  (Gallery),  £872  18s  4d. 

The  policies  of  Craigo  are  very  large.  Plantations  extend  to  a  considerable 
distance  in  all  directions  around  the  mansion  house,  leaving  an  open  park  in 
front.  The  approaches  are  by  avenues  leading  from  the  neighbouring  high- 
ways. Some  of  the  trees  in  the  vicinity  of  the  house  are  well  grown,  and  some 
about  the  gardens  are  remarkable  for  size. 

Craigo  House  is  a  large  building  three  floors  in  height,  with  along  frontage. 
The  entrance  is  in  the  centre,  the  door  being  surrounded  by  a  small  portico, 
the  front  of  which  is  supported  by  four  Ionic  pillars.  Eight  and  left  of  the 
doorway  there  are  four  windows  on  each  floor,  all  of  comparatively  small  size. 
There  is  a  wing  extending  back  from  the  centre  of  the  house,  behind  which 
are  ranges  of  offices,  and  several  other  buildings  for  various  purposes  are  close 
by.  The  grounds  around  the  house  are  neatly  laid  out  with  shrubbery,  &c. 
There  is  a  good  garden  in  the  vicinity  of  the  housej  but,  as  the  present  pro- 
prietor does  not  reside  on  the  estate,  there  is  less  attention  paid  to  it  than 
there  might  otherwise  have  been. 

David  Carnegie,  Dean  of  Brechin,  was  second  son  of  David  Carnegie,  who  pur- 
chased the  lands  of  Cookston  in  1610,  and  great-grandson  of  Sir  Kobert 
Carnegie  of  Kinnaird.  The  Dean  was  born  in  1594  or  1595.  He  purchased 
Craigo,  and  was  ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  Carnegies.  He  had  three  sons 
and  one  daughter  by  Helen,  daughter  of  David  Lindsay,  Bishop  of  Brechin 
from  1619,  and  translated  to  Edinburgh  in  1634.  He  died  in  1672,  in  his 
seventy- seventh  year. 

James  Carnegie,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  Craigo,  was  minister  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  at  Barrie.  He  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Gardyne  of 
Lawton,  and  died  6tli  December,  1701. 

David  Carnegie,  third  of  Craigo,  received  a  Crown  charter  of  half  the  lands 
of  Craigo,  2d  March,  1705  ;  and  another  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Logie- 
Montrose,  27th  July,  1713 ;  and  another  of  the  lands  of  Meikle  and  Little 


Chap.  XXXVIII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LOGIE  PERT.  239 

Dysarts,  on  29tli  November,  1739.  On  26tli  October,  1704,  he  married 
Margaret  Dempster,  heiress  of  Logie  and  Djsart,  in  Angus,  and  of  Ballindean, 
in  Perthshire,  by  whom  he  had  eight  sons  and  eleven  daughters.  David 
Carnegie  died  2d  April,  1761,  and  was  succeeded  in  Craigo  by  his  eldest 
surviving  son,  Thomas.      Margaret  Dempster,  his  wife,  died  in  1771. 

Thomas,  fourth  laird  of  Craigo,  the  seventh  son  of  his  father,  was  born  11th 
February,  1729.  He  was  served  heir  special  to  his  fatlier  in  parts  of  Craio-o, 
Logie-Montrose,  Mains  of  Meikle  Dysart,  and  in  Over  or  Little  Dysart  in 
Angus,  25th  January,  1762.  On  19th  April,  J  775,  he  married  Mary  Cardyne 
of  Middleton,  and  by  her  had  two  sons  and  six  daughters.  By  disposition, 
dated  12th  February,  1785,  Thomas  Carnegie  of  Craigo  disponed  Craigo, 
Logie,  &c.,  to  his  son  David  and  his  other  sons,  Avhom  faihng,  to  Elizabeth, 
Anne,  Clementina,  and  Helen  Carnegie,  his  sisters,  equally  among  them. 
Registered  in  the  Books  of  Council  and  Session,  17th  June,  1793.  Crown 
charter  thereon  in  favour  of  David  Carnegie  on  5th  July,  1794.  (In  Craigo 
Charter  Chest.)  He  died  at  Craigo  on  9th  June,  1793,  and  his  spouse,  Mary 
Gardyne,  at  Montrose  in  1815. 

David  Carnegie  was  born  9th  March,  1776,  and  succeeded  his  father  in 
Craigo,  in  1793.  He  married,  1st  March,  1803,  Isabella  i^gnes,  daughter  of 
George  31acpherson  of  Invereshie,  and  by  her  had  three  sons  and  seven 
daughters.  He  died  10th  November,  1845.  His  son,  Thomas,  was  served 
heir  to  him  in  Craigo,  28th  February,  1848.  Thomas  Carnegie  of  Craigo  was 
born  9th  March,  and  baptised  6th  April,  1804.  He  conveyed  Craigo  to  his 
cousin  german,  Thomas  Macpherson  Grant,  W.S.,  born  in  1815,  second  sur- 
viving son  of  Sir  George  Macpherson  Grant  of  Ballindalloch,  in  Banffshire, 
and  Invereshie,  in  Inverness-shire,  Baronet,  and  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Carnegie  of  Craigo.  On  the  death  of  his  cousin,  Thomas  Carnegie  of  Crai"-o, 
on  12th  June,  1856,  at  Craigo,  without  issue,  he  became  proprietor  of  Craigo, 
Pitforthie,  and  Newton.  On  his  death  in  September,  1881,  these  properties, 
and  Logie  Mills  and  Bleachfield,  in  terms  of  the  settlement  of  their  late 
brother,  dated  in  1851,  came  into  the  possession  of  Misses  Ann  Grace  Carnegy, 
Agnes  M.  Carnegy,  Rev.  Thomas  Bain,  Coupar-Angus,  in  riglit  of  his  wife, 
Mrs  Agnes  Carnegy  or  Bain,  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Carnegy.  Logie  Bleachfield 
was  started  about  1770,  and  Logie  spinning  mill  in  the  first  decade  of  this  cen- 
tury. Craigo  Works  were  started  about  twenty  years  after  Logie  Mill.  Craigo 
Mill  and  Bleachworks  belong  to  Richards  &  Co.,  Aberdeen,  lessees,  and  are 
occupied  by  them,  but  the  proprietary  rights  are  in  the  ladies  above  mentioned. 


240  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  lands  of  Pert,  or  Little  Pert  as  they  were  usually  called  in  early  times, 
belonged  to  the  Lindsays.  Sir  Alexander  Lindsay  of  Crawford  gave  the  Abbey 
of  Coupar- Angus  a  gift  of  the  land  of  Little  Pert,  near  Montrose.  This  grant 
was  confirmed  by  charter  in  favour  of  the  Abbot  by  Sir  John  of  Kinross. 
King  Robert  Bruce  confirmed  by  charter  this  gift  to  the  Abbey.  It  is  dated 
at  Dundee  in  1309.  The  Register  of  the  Abbey  abounds  in  notices  of  the 
lettings  and  other  details  connected  with  this  munificent  grant.  We  do  not 
know  the  extent  of  the  grant,  but  it  probably  included  all  the  lands  that  were 
known  as  Little  Pert  and  Nether  Pert. 

The  Durwards  probably  had  some  connection  with  the  grant  of  Little  Pert 
to  Coupar  Abbey  in  1308,  above  mentioned.  The  main  line  of  the  Durwards 
ended  in  1275,  in  Sir  Alan,  "  the  flower  of  chivalry,"  who  left  three  daughters, 
co-heiresses,  whose  marriages  have  not  been  discovered.  (Lives  of  the  Ls., 
L,  p.  42.) 

On  20th  July,  1550,  Abbot  Donald  Campbell  and  the  Convent  of  Cupar, 
granted  a  charter  to  their  servant  and  cousin,  Robert  Montgomery  of  Dundee, 
his  spouse,  and  their  lawful  heirs  male,  whom  failing,  Robert's  nearest  lieirs 
whomsoever  bearing  his  surname  and  arms,  all  the  half  lands  of  Lytill  Perth 
(Little  Pert),  then  occupied  by  Elizabeth  Barry,  relict  of  George  Berclay,  of 
the  yearly  rental  in  rents  and  grassums,  of  £11  6s  8d  Scots,  two  dozen  capons, 
four  bolls  horse  corn,  arriage  and  other  due  services,  to  be  held  in  feufarm  and 
heiitage  for  ever.  Paying  therefor  annually  £12  with  corn  and  capons  as 
above  mentioned  ;  "  along  with  the  service  of  one  squire,  carrying  a  properly 
furnished  lance  for  the  service  of  the  Queen  and  the  Abbot ;  and  the  said  Robert, 
&c.,  shall  defend  the  Abbot  and  Convent,  their  place  and  goods,  to  the  best 
of  their  ability,  against  all  assailants  and  heretics  whomsoever  ;  and  if  they 
shall  fall  into  the  Lutheran  madness  and  heresy,  or  if  they  shall  obstinately 
hold  new  opinions  contrary  to  the  constitutions  of  the  Church,  the  said  feu 
^hall  revert  to  the  Abbey." 

The  rental  of  Little  Pert  in  1542  was  as  follows :  — 

Alex.  Lindsay's  half,  £10  4  bolls  oats  24  capons 

Wiston  Berkley's  half,  10  4      do.  24    do. 


Together,  £20  Scots      8  bolls  oats  48  capons 

On  27th  May,  1543,  componit  with  Alexander  Lindsay  in  Little  Pert,  set 
the  tane  half  of  the  samyn  to  hym,  his  wyf,  ane  ayr,  for  lyfrent — composition, 
xl  lib,  aftd  iiij  oxin, 


Chap.  XXXVIII.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LOGIE  PERT.  241 

On  20th  November,  1560. — Item,  componit  with  Robert  Montgomery,  in 
Maister  David  Lyndsayis  name,  for  ane  charter  of  feu  of  the  half  of  Lytill 
Pertht — composition,  ijc  lib,  £200  Scots. 

The  family  of  Montgomery,  who  acquired  the  half  of  the  lands  of  Little 
Pert  from  the  Abbot,  retained  the  property  till  towards  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  if  not  longer.  On  22d  April,  1592,  Alexander  Montgomery,  heir  of 
his  father,  Eobert  Montgomery  of  Nether  Pert,  was  retoured  in  half  the  lands 
of  Little  Pert — E.  £12,  &c.,  feudifirmo3  (Ret.  576).  The  lands  appear  to 
have  been  acquired  by  a  Magistrate  of  Edinburgh  named  John  Ray.  His  son, 
John,  was  served  heir  to  him  in  Little  Pert  on  14th  March,  1633  (Ret.  513), 
A.E.  £5  5s,  N.E.  £21.  We  find  the  property  next  in  possession  of  the  family 
of  the  Earl  of  Northesk.  Sir  John  Carnegie  of  Ethie  owned  Meikle  Pert  in 
1637  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  359).  On  16th  April,  1667,  Earl  David  was  served  heir 
to  his  father,  John,  Earl  of  Ethie,  in  Little  Pert  (Ret.  425).  On  6th  May, 
1681,  Earl  David  succeeded  Earl  David,  his  father,  in  the  property. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  if  not  earlier,  the  lands  of 
Ballochy  and  others  belonged  to  the  Livingstones  of  Dunypace.  On  22d 
January,  1629,  David  Livingston,  heir  of  his  father,  John,  was  retoured  (No. 
124)  in  part  of  the  lands  and  town  of  Counouye,  part  of  the  town  and  lands 
of  Ballochy,  lands  of  Bank,  lands  of  Muretown,  Moor  of  Meikle  Perth,  &c. 
The  Livingstons  owned  other  lands  in  the  district  about  that  time.  The  most 
of  these  lands  were  subsequently  acquired  by  the  Falconers.  On  23d  February, 
1693,  David  Falconer  succeeded  his  father,  Lord  David,  President  of  the 
College  of  Justice  (Ret.  525),  in  Dunlappie,  &c.,  and  in  the  lands  of  Nether 
Perth  or  Cononies,  with  the  mill  of  Pert  and  multures,  lands  of  Over  Pert, 
Ballochies,  and  Bank,  and  fishings  upon  the  water  of  North  Esk. 

In  1683  Roll  half  Pert  is  called  "  Sir  John  Falconer,"  the  value  being  £850. 
The  other  half,  "  Logy,  John  Scott,"  also  £850  value.  The  first  half  is  after- 
wards called  Pert.  In  1822  it  belonged  to  the  Earl  of  Kintore.  The  second 
is  afterwards  called  Ballochy  and  Over  Pert,  before  1748  divided  thus — 
Ballochy,  Miss  Erskine,  £283  6s  8d  ;  the  remainder  divided  30th  April,  1785  ; 
lands  bought  from  Scott  of  Logic  by  Cruickshank  of  Stracathro,  £129  10s  9d  ; 
remainder  came  into  possession  of  General  Sir  John  Hope,  £437  2s  7d ;  total, 
£850.  The  Brae  of  Pert,  Ballochies,  Muirton,  and  Dalton  now  belong  to 
James  Alexander  Campbell  of  Stracathro ;  and  David  Lyall  of  Gallery 
acquired  the  other  parts  of  the  parish  of  Pert  a  few  years  ago.  His  portions 
comprise  the  large  and  fine  farm  of  Pert,  West  Nether  Pert  farm,  and  mill  of 
2h 


242  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Pert,  &c,j  with  net  and  rod  fishings  on  the  North  Esk.  On  Pert  and  on  Nether 
Pert  there  are  fine  old  trees  of  good  size,  which  beautify  the  landscape.  The 
united  lands  of  Gallery  and  Pert  lie  into  each  other,  and  form  an  excellent  pro- 
perty. On  the  upper  parts  of  Pert  some  march  stones  are  on  the  lands  with 
H  on  one  side  for  Halkerton,  showing  that  Lord  Halkerton  had  at  one  time  an 
interest  in  Pert  as  well  as  in  Gallery. 

The  lands  of  Gallery  appear  to  have  come  into  possession  of  the  Lords 
Oliphant  towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  but  I  have  not  met  with  the 
name  of  the  previous  proprietors. 

In  an  instrument  of  sasine  to  John,  second  Lord  Oliphant,  of  certain  lands, 
including  Gallery,  dated  28th  May,  1500,  the  Mair  is  desired  to  take  security 
for  two  pounds  of  ginger  for  the  doubling  of  blench  ferm  of  the  lands  of 
Gallowraw  (Gallery),  a  pound  of  ginger  at  Pasch  (Easter),  being  the  duties 
payable  to  the  Crown,  or  the  redendo  for  Gallery.  Colin,  Master  of  Oliphant, 
son  of  John,  second  Lord  Oliphant,  and  Elizabeth  Keith,  his  wife,  had  a  charter 
of  Gallowraw  on  1st  March,  1504.-5.       He  fell  on  the  bloody  field  of  Flodden. 

At  Edinburgh,  on  2d  May,  1566,  retour  of  service  of  Laurence,  Lord  Oli- 
phant, as  heir  of  Laurence,  his  father,  in  the  lands  (among  others)  of  Galray, 
in  Forfarshire,  was  made.  By  the  marriage  contract,  dated  on  7th  April,  1576, 
a  charter  of  Galraw  and  other  lands  was  given  to  Lady  Christian  Douglas, 
daughter  of  "William,  second  Earl  of  Morton,  in  her  virginity,  prior  to  her 
marriage,  on  12th  April,  with  Laurence,  Master  of  Oliphant.  He  was  drowned 
going  abroad  in  March,  1584.  Laurence,  fifth  Lord  Oliphant,  born  24th 
March,  1583,  was  served  heir  (Eet.  46)  to  his  grandfather  on  14th  June,  and 
2d  July,  1605,  in  his  estates  in  Forfarshire,  including  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Gallery — A.E.,  £10  ;  N.E.,  £40.  This  Lord  dissipated  the  greater  part  of 
his  large  estates.  Gallery  was  a  barony,  and  had  the  usual  baronial  rights 
and  privileges,  and  the  baron  his  baronial  powers.  It  appears  from  the  par- 
ticulars given  above  that  the  Oliphants  had  been  proprietors  of  the  barony  for 
considerably  more  than  a  century. 

Before  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century  Gallery  had  come  into  possession 
of  Lord  Halkerton.  It  was  subsequently  acquired  by  David  Lyall,  who  was 
born  at  East  Carcary  in  February,  1733.  He  was  for  many  years  a  merchant 
at  Gottenburgh,  but  in  1787  he  returned  to  his  native  county  to  enjoy,  in  his 
old  age,  the  fruits  of  his  former  industry.  Prior  to  his  acquisition  of  the 
estate  it  had  probably  been  in  possession  of  the  FuUertons,  as  it  is  said  that  a, 


Chap.  XXXVIIL]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LOGIE  PERT.  243 

cadet  of  the  Kinnaber  family  of  that  name  built  the  house  of  Gallery.  David 
Lyall  died  on  29th  December,  1815,  aged  82  years,  without  leaving  issue. 
The  lands  of  Gallery  then  came  to  James  Gibson,  son  of  his  sister,  who 
assumed  the  name  of  Lyall.  James  Lyall  of  Gallery  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Eichard  Simpson,  of  Ward  Mill.  He  died  on  20th  March,  1851, 
aged  87  years.  By  her  he  had  a  son,  David,  born  in  1826,  who  succeeded  his 
father,  and  is  the  present  proprietor  of  Gallery.  He  was  educated  at  the 
High  School,  and  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  David  Lyall  of  Gallery 
and  Pert  has  never  married.  He  and  his  sister.  Miss  Mary  Anne,  reside  in 
the  mansion  of  Gallery.  David  Lyall  of  Gallery  and  Pert  is  a  Justice  of 
Peace  and  a  Commissioner  of  Supply  for  the  County  of  Forfar. 

The  mansion  house  of  Gallery  is  a  large  building  of  three  storeys,  consisting 
of  a  central  portion,  in  the  middle  of  which  is  the  entrance,  surmounted  by 
the  family  arms.  There  are  two  windows  on  each  side  of  the  door,  and  the 
two  upper  floors  have  each  five  windows.  There  are  wings  on  each  end  of 
this  building,  which  project  forward  some  distance  beyond  the  main  front. 
From  the  side  of  the  westmost  of  these  a  range  of  buildings  is  carried  some 
distance  farther  to  the  west,  aud  half  hidden  by  trees.  The  white  walls  of  the 
mansion  contrast  finely  with  the  green  foliage  of  the  surrounding  noble  speci- 
mens of  arboriculture  which  adorn  the  grounds.  These  trees  consist  of  horse- 
chestnut,  beech,  silver  fir,  and  other  sorts,  which  are  not  surpassed  in  size  by 
many  in  Angus,  and  they  throw  an  air  of  dignity  over  the  scene.  To  the  east 
ofthe  house  there  is  a  good  walled  garden,  well  stocked  with  fruit  trees  and 
fine  old  flowers,  which  it  does  one's  heart  good  to  see.  The  grounds  extend  to 
the  North  Esk,  which  flows  past  at  a  little  distance  from  the  house,  and  is  a 
beautiful  object  in  the  landscape. 

The  old  Statistical  Account  (1793)  mentions  that  property  in  land  in  this 
parish  is  very  often  changing.  "  Of  this  there  have  been  four  instances  within 
the  previous  eight  or  ten  years.  During  that  period,  or  little  more,  near  the 
banks  of  the  North  Esk,  and  within  the  extent  of  five  or  six  miles,  eight  estates 
have  been  in  the  market  and  changed  proprietors.  This  rapid  change  may,  in 
one  or  two  instances,  be  accounted  for  on  political  considerations,  but  is  chiefly 
owing  to  the  two  following  causes— Some  of  the  old  proprietors  having  been 
men  of  pleasure,  and  not  sufficiently  attentive  to  their  worldly  interest,  were 
obliged  to  sell  their  land  from  the  impulse  of  necessity,  or  pecuniary  em- 
barrassment ;  others,  who  had  several  children,  having,  in  contradiction  to  the 
old  feudal  spirit,  made  liberal  provision  in  their  settlements  for  the  younger 


244  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

branches  of  their  families,  rendered  the  sale  of  their  estates  unavoidable  on 
their  demise. 

"  Land  then  sold  at  twenty-five  to  thirty  years'  purchase  on  the  amount  of  the 
rental,  but  it  was  increasing  in  value.  The  prices  of  provisions,  and  the  wages 
paid  in  the  parish  were  much  the  same  as  those  mentioned  in  other  parishes. 
Formerly  the  women  of  inferior  stations  appeared  at  church  on  Sundays  in  bed 
blankets,  or  tartan  plaids.  Then  they  wore  scarlet  plaids,  or  duffle  cloaks  and 
bonnets.  The  habits  of  all  classes  were  changing  rapidly,  the  old  home-made 
dresses  being  superseded  with  English  cloth  for  Sunday  wear,  and  finer  stuffs 
for  everyday  clothing.  Hats  were  taking  the  place  of  bonnets  among  farmers 
and  their  servants." 

"  In  that  part  of  the  river  North  Esk  which  bounds  the  parish  of  Logic  Pert, 
excellent  trout  and  salmon  are  caught  from  Candlemas  to  Michaelmas  (the 
legal  term  of  fishing  here),  some  years  upwards  of  120  stone  being  taken,  the 
fish  being  in  greatest  perfection  from  February  to  April.  '  They  were  com- 
monly sent  for  sale  to  the  boil  house  at  Montrose,  where,  at  an  average,  they 
bring  about  five  shillings  the  stone  ;  from  thence  they  are  exported  to  the 
London  market.  When  sold  on  the  spot,  towards  the  beginning  of  spring, 
they  frequently  fetch  sixpence  a  pound.' 

"  Limestone  was  discovered  in  the  parish  about  1780,  and  for  some  time  it 
was  wrought  in  the  usual  way,  but  latterly  it  had  been  wrought  by  mining  in 
the  same  manner  as  coal  is  wrought  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  country.  A 
tunnel,  fifteen  fathoms  deep,  and  four  hundred  yards  in  length,  was  then  in 
course  of  formation.  The  lime  works  continued  to  be  worked  successfully  for 
many  years,  but  for  a  considerable  time  past  English  lime  has  been  imported, 
and  sold  at  a  rate  so  low  that  home  produce  cannot  successfully  compete  with 
it  where  coals  have  to  be  imported  for  burning  the  limestone.  The  national 
tax  upon  coals  from  the  Firth  of  Forth  passing  the  Eed  Head  northwards 
was  a  serious  tax  upon  limestone  burned  in  this  parish.  It  was  a  most  un- 
politic  tax,  highly  detrimental  to  the  districts  afiected  by  it,  and  greatly  con- 
demned and  complained  against."     It  was  discontinued  long  ago. 

"  There  were  then  in  operation  in  the  parish  a  flax  scutching  mill,  four  meal 
mills,  a  yarn  cleaning  mill  with  an  apparatus  for  beating  thread,  a  waulk  mill 
and  dyehouse,  a  barley  mill,  and  a  snuff  mill. 

"It  is  said  that  the  first  artificial  grass  ever  known  in  the  parish  was 
about  the  year  174G  or  1747,  when  a  person  in  the  parish  of  Pert  having 
sown  a  ridge   with  clover,  got  a   public  proclamation  for  people   to  keep 


Chap.  XXXIX.]       ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.-  LUNAK  245 

their  sheep  and  cattle  from  it,  which  brought  many  to  see  it  as  a  matter  of 
curiosity. 

"  About  1792  there  were  about  740  acres  in  oats,  420  in  barley  and  common 
bear,  144  in  pease,  70  in  wheat,  46  in  flax,  160  in  fallow,  turnips,  and  potatoes, 
270  in  hay  for  cutting,  890  in  pasture,  including  waste,  350  in  moor  (unculti- 
vated), 770  in  woodlands,  making  in  all  3860  acres,  exclusive  of  farm  steading, 
roads,  gardens,  &c. 

"  In  1782  the  crop  was  not  got  in  till  considerably  after  Martinmas.  There 
was  a  great  dearth.  Ten  bolls  bear  were  purchased  by  the  session  for  the  use 
of  the  poor  at  24s  the  boll,  and  a  present  of  ten  bolls  of  a  mixture  of  oats, 
barley,  rye,  &c.,  received  from  the  Grovernment,  was  distributed  among  the 
poor.  Oatmeal  then  sold  at  20s  the  boll.  The  low  lands  adjoining  the  North 
Esk  are  often  submerged  duriui;-  floods.  In  1774  the  river  rose  to  an  unpre- 
cedented  height,  and  did  great  damage,  carrying  away  the  cut  corn,  and 
covering  the  uncut  with  sand  and  other  debris.  In  1784  a  very  remarkable 
brilHant  meteor  was  seen  here  and  throughout  the  kingdom,  as  well  as  in  other 
countries.  It  appeared  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  moving  in  a  rapid 
majestic  manner  from  a  N.W.  to  a  S.E.  direction,  its  visible  magnitude  being 
equal  to  the  full  moon,  and  the  light  much  superior.  It  passed  through  the 
heavens  at  a  great  altitude,  with  immense  velocity,  and  finally  disappeared  as 
it  were  in  the  ocean."    It  must  have  been  of  prodigious  size. 

Chap.  XXXIX.— LUNAN. 

The  Kirk  of  InverlutJmene,  Inverlunane,  Lunan,  belonged  to  the  diocese  of 
St  Andrews.  It  was  gifted  by  William  the  Lion  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath. 
It  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  David  in  1242,  and  is  rated  at  15  merks  in  the  old 
Taiation.  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  237.)  The  Parish  Church  was  built  in  1844. 
It  stands  within  the  burying  ground  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Lunan,  close  by 
Lunan  Bay.  Liman  may  be  derived  from  Lenan,  a  Gaelic  word  meaning 
luater  meadows,  which  is  descriptive  of  the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  church. 

Walter  Mill,  a  Popish  priest,  who  held  the  office  of  pastor  of  Lunan  for 
many  years,  but  was  converted  to  the  reformed  faith,  was,  by  Lord  John 
Hamilton,  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath, 
afterwards  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  taken  to  St  Andrews,  tried  there  on  29th 
April,  1558,  condemned  to  the  flames,  and  burned  to  death  in  the  Market 
Place  there.     He  was  83  years  of  age,  and  the  shocking  death  of  this  faithful 


246  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part.  XIV. 

martyr  for  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  created  great  indignation  throughout 
Scotland,  which  hastened  on  the  Reformation  and  stopped  the  murderous  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Popish  priests  and  their  bigoted  followers,  A  monument  to 
the  martyr  was  raised  by  the  people  in  St  Andrews,  but  the  priests  had  it 
thrown  down.  In  1818  a  monument  with  a  suitable  inscription  was  put  up 
in  the  Church  of  Lunan,  but  it  was  taken  down  and  a  marble  tablet  with  an 
inscription  put  up  instead,  in  1848. 

The  lands  of  Lunan,  or  Easter  Lunan,  or  Inverlunan  as  they  were  called  in 
early  times,  were  Crown  property  in  the  days  of  William  the  Lion,  That 
monarch  gifted  them,  with  the  kirk  and  its  teinds,  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath 
by  a  charter  dated  1189.  In  1214  Alexander  II.  granted  charter  of  confirma- 
tion of  them  to  the  Abbey,  and  they  had  remained  in  possession  of  the  Convent 
for  some  time.  On  7th  July,  1247,  Alexander  II.  granted  to  Anselme  of  Came- 
lyne  a  charter  of  the  land  of  Innirlunan,  which  had  belonged  to  Gilbertus  Longus 
(H.  of  C.  of  S.,  478),  in  excambion  for  his  land  of  Bridburgh,  in  Nithsdale, 
reserving  to  Marie,  the  relict  of  Neil  of  Ymire,  her  liferent  of  her  dower  lands 
thereof ;  to  be  held  of  the  king  in  feu  and  heritage  for  the  portion  of  the  half 
service  of  one  knight  in  the  Scots  army,  pertaining  to  so  much  land,  £10 
sterling  yearly  during  the  lifetime  of  the  said  Marie,  and  £12  after  her  death. 
This  charter  is  dated  at  Forfar,  and  William  of  Huchterhus  (Auchterhouse)  is 
a  witness  to  it.     He  was  Sheriff  of  Angus  in  1245. 

In  "  The  Charters  of  the  Priory  of  Beauly,"  by  Edmund  Chisholm  Batten, 
issued  by  the  Grampian  Club  in  1877,  William,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  in  1275, 
gi'anted  the  Castle  of  Skibo  to  the  Bishop  of  Caithness,  and  to  this  grant  the 
seals  of  the  Earl,  William  de  Monte- Alto,  Sir  Andrew  of  Moray,  Sir  Alexander 
of  Moray,  and  Sir  David  of  Innerlunan,  were  appended.  Shortly  before  this 
grant  was  made,  Sir  David  of  Innerlunan  had  made  a  grant  to  the  monks  of 
Beauly  of  all  his  lands  of  Ouchter-Tarradale,  which  he  did  with  the  consent  of 
Gilchrist  MacgillidufS,  of  whom  he  held  the  lands  in  fee  farm.  To  the  charter 
granted  by  himself,  Sir  David,  it  is  said,  because  his  seal  is  not  sufficiently 
known,  uses  the  seal  of  Walter  de  Moray.  To  the  charter  by  the  Earl,  Sir 
David's  own  seal  was  appended.  It  is  added  Innerlunan  is  a  barony  in  the 
Sherifidom  of  Forfar,  and  Sir  David  held  it  of  the  Earldom  of  Angus.  This 
Gilchrist  may  have  been  the  Earl  of  Angus  of  that  name,  but  of  this  the 
author  is  not  sure.  This  Sir  David  of  Innerlunan  had  probably  succeeded 
Anselm  of  Camelyne  in  the  possession  of  the  estate. 


Chap.  XXXIX.]       ANGCJS  IN  PAEISHES— LUNAN.  247 

The  lands  of  Lunan  had  asjain  reverted  to  the  Crown,  for  in  1309  there  is  a 
charter  by  Kobert  I.  to  Hago  de  Eos  and  his  spouse  of  an  18  merks  furth  of 
the  barony  of  Inverlunan. 

Douglas,  in  his  Peerage  (Vol.  II.,  p.  411),  says  Hugh,  sixth  Earl  of  Koss, 
had  charter  from  Eobert  I.  to  himself  and  Maude,  sister  of  the  King,  of  the 
barony  of  Inverlunan,  before  3d  July,  1328.  Hugh  was  slain  at  the  Battle 
of  Halidon  Hill  in  1333,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  William,  Earl  of  Ross. 
He  died  without  male  issue,  and  left  two  daughters,  his  heirs — Eupham, 
Countess  of  Ross,  who  married  Sir  Walter  Lesly,  and  by  him  had  a  son.  Sir 
Alexander  Lesly,  who,  on  the  death  of  his  mother,  was  Earl  of  Ross.  Jean, 
Earl  William's  second  daughter,  married  Sir  Alexander  Fraser  of  Philorth. 
How  long  Inverlunan  remained  in  the  family  of  the  Earl  of  Ross  we  have  not 
ascertained.  It  may  have  been  until  it  was  acquired  from  them  by 
the  next  known  proprietor  of  the  barony  of  Lunan,  Richard  de  Montealt, 
Chancellor  of  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin,  who  in  1377  resigned  Inverlunan 
in  favour  of  Alexander  Stewart,  son,  by  Mariota  de  Cardney,  of  Eobert  II. 
The  King  gave  a  charter  of  the  lands  to  Alexander  Stewart,  in  succession  to 
his  two  brothers,  John  and  James,  whom  failing,  to  return  to  the  granter  and 
his  successors,  Kings  of  Scotland,  and  constituting  the  lands  into  a  free  barony. 
The  charter  is  dated  at  Dundee,  4th  January,  in  the  seventh  year  of  his  reign, 
1377.  On  the  death  of  Alexander,  before  1399,  without  issue,  the  barony  of 
Lunan  descended  to  John,  his  brother,  who  probably  retained  it  until  about 
1425,  when  he  was  imprisoned  along  with  Murdoch,  Duke  of  Albany.  "  The 
lands  appear  to  have  then  reverted  to  the  Crown. 

The  charter  of  the  lands  of  Brichty,  in  the  parish  of  Murroes,  by  Richard 
Mowat  of  Feme  to  Sir  Alexander  Lindsay,  Lord  of  Glenesk,  was  signed  at  Inner- 
lunan  on  20th  December,  1379.  Sir  John  Lyon,  knight,  the  King's  son-in- 
law,  and  Chamberlain  to  the  King,  is  one  of  the  witnesses. 

In  1428  the  Convent  of  Arbroath  was  in  possession  of  the  barony,  having 
probably  obtained  a  grant  of  it  from  James  I.  On  14th  December  of 
that  year.  Abbot  Walter  Panter,  with  consent  of  the  Convent,  set  in  feu 
farm  to  William  de  Guthrie  the  whole  of  the  lands  of  Lunan  for  the  yearly 
feu- duty  of  three  chalders  of  bear,  two  chalders  of  oatmeal,  and  fourteen 
bolls  of  bear  and  oatmeal.  He  was  one  of  an  assize  who  perambulated  the 
marches  between  the  lands  of  Menmuir  and  those  belonging  to  the  city  of 
Brechin  on  13th  October,  1450.  His  granddaughter  was  married  to  Lord 
Menmuir  in  1581.     It  is  not  known  how  long  the  family  of  Guthrie  held 


248  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

them,  but  in  1496  the  lands  of  Lunan  were  again  in  possession  of  the  Monastery 
of  Arbroath. 

In  the  year  1496  Sir  David  Lichton,  the  then  Abbot,  granted  a  lease  of  the 
lands  of  Lunan  for  nineteen  years  to  Robert  Guthrie.  In  1512  Abbot  George 
granted  a  lease  of  Lunan  for  nineteen  years  to  James  Guthrie,  probably  the 
son  and  successor  of  Robert  Guthrie,  as  his  lease  had  not  been  expired.  In 
1526  Abbot  David  (Cardinal  Beaton)  granted  a  lease  of  the  same  lands  for 
nineteen  years  to  John  Guthrie,  of  the  same  family  as  his  predecessors.  These 
Guthries  were  of  considerable  standing  in  the  district,  as  they  intermarried 
with  the  Carnegies  and  other  families  of  note.  In  1527  Sir  Robert  Carnegie 
of  Kinnaird  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Guthrie  of  Lunan. 

In  1544  Cardinal  Beaton  feued  out  Lunan  to  John  Stewart,  fourth  Lord 
luvermeath,  and  Elizabeth  Beaton,  his  spouse.  The  reddendo  was  forty  bolls 
of  bear,  and  forty  bolls  of  meal,  extending  to  five  chalders,  or  for  every  chalder 
thereof  the  sum  of  eight  merks  Scots,  and  forty  shillings  Scots  money  as  yearly 
augmentation  of  the  rental.  It  is  signed  and  sealed  at  the  Monastery  of 
Arbroath,  21st  July,  1544,  It  is  subscribed  by  the  Cardinal  and  21  monks, 
and  witnessed  by  William  Graham  of  Fintry ;  Archibald  Beaton  of  Capeldray  ; 
James  Ogilvy  of  Balfour,  Chamberlain  of  the  Monastery ;  Bernard  Bailie, 
Rector  of  Lammington  and  Chamberlain  of  St  Andrews  ;  John  Lawder,  Arch- 
deacon of  Tevidale,  secretary  ;  and  Andrew  Oliphant,  vicar  of  Fowlis.  In 
implement  of  this  charter,  21st  July,  1544,  Cardinal  Beaton  granted  a  precept 
of  sasine  of  the  same  date,  and  upon  this  precept  Lord  luvermeath  and  Eliza- 
beth Beaton  were  accordingly  infeft  on  the  6th  August,  1544.  Instrument  of 
sasine  thereon  under  the  hand  of  John  Guthrie,  notary  public. 

On  2d  January,  1561,  Queen  Mary  granted  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal 
confirming  the  charter  of  Cardinal  Beaton  of  the  lands  of  Lunan.  In  this 
charter  of  confirmation  there  are  several  omissions  from,  and  additions  to,  the 
original  charter.  Lord  John  had  been  appointed  Sheriff  of  Angus  15th  May, 
1541,  and  an  Extraordinary  Lord  of  Session,  5th  March,  1542.  He  was  a 
Member  of  the  last  Parliament,  1560. 

James  Stewart,  fifth  Lord  luvermeath,  succeeded  his  father,  14th  June, 
1582.  He  received  from  Esme,  Duke  of  Lennox,  as  Commendator  of  the 
Abbey  of  Arbroath,  a  precept  of  clare  constat  for  infefting  him  in  the  lands  of 
Lunan  as  heir  of  his  fother,  and  he  was  infeft  on  the  23d  June,  1582.  Lord 
luvermeath  obtained  a  charter  of  resignation  from  the  Duke  of  Lennox  of  the 
lauds  of  Lunan,  proceeding  on  his  own  resignation. 


Chap.  XXXIX.]       ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LUNAK 


249 


John,  sixth  Lord  Invermeath,  succeeded  to  the  estates  and  honours  of  the 
family  on  the  death  of  his  father.  On  the  death  of  John,  fifth  Earl  of  Athole, 
1,595,  that  Earldom  having  fallen  into  the  King's  hands,  he  bestowed  the  title 
upon  Lord  Invermeath,  creating  him  first  Earl  of  Athole,  by  charter  under 
the  Great  Seal,  6th  March,  1595,  to  him  and  his  heirs  male  of  his  body,  whom 
failing,  to  revert  to  the  Crown.  (Mag.  Sil.  L.,  XLL,  No.  19.)  He  died  13th 
April,  1605.  By  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  Edzell,  he  had 
a  son  and  successor,  James,  second  Earl  of  Athole.  He  married  Lady  Mary 
Stewart,  second  daughter  of  John,  fifth  Earl  of  Athole,  but,  dying  without 
issue  in  1625,  his  titles  reverted  to  the  Grown. 

John,  first  Earl  of  Athole,  sold  the  lands  of  Lunan  to  John  (xuthrie.  The 
conveyance  is  dated  31st  August,  1598,  and  he  had  sasine  26th  July,  1600. 
The  Earl's  charter  of  the  lands  of  Inverlunan  was  ratified  by  James,  Marquis 
of  Hamilton,  19th  May,  1614,  and  sasine  followed  thereon,  2d  July,  1614. 
John  Guthrie  married  Margaret  Keith.  He  died  in  1653,  and  was  succeeded 
in  the  lands  of  Lunan  by  his  nephew,  John  Guthrie,  who  is  designed  in 
Ketour  No.  326,  dated  4th  November,  1653,  as  follows :— John  Guthrie  of 
Over  Dysart,  heir  of  John  Guthrie  of  Inverlunan,  his  father's  brother,  in  the 
town  and  lands  of  Inverlunan,  with  the  teind  sheaves  in  the  parish  of  Lunan 
— E.  40  bolls  bear,  &c.,  of  feu  farm.  Sasine  upon  the  precept  following,  regis- 
tered 11th  February,  1654. 

John  Guthrie  disponed  the  lands  and  teinds  of  Lunan  to  Sir  Francis  Ogilvy 
of  New  Grange  ;  sasine  registered  the  8th  September,  1667.  Sir  Francis, 
designed  of  New  Grange,  Easter  Braikie,  and  Lunan,  became  embarrassed,  and 
George  Ogilvy,  fourth  son  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  who  had  bonds 
over  these  properties,  became  proprietor  of  them  in  1702,  having  purchased 
them  at  the  judicial  sale  on  30th  July,  1702,  for  £7000  Scots.  He  married 
Jane,  sister  of  Sir  Francis  Ogilvy,  and  by  her  had  a  son,  John  Ogilvy  of  Bal- 
begno,  advocate,  to  which  property  he  succeeded  on  the  death  of  Robert 
Middleton,  who  had  married  Ogilvy's  sister,  and  died  in  1710  without  issue, 
leaving  the  property  to  his  brother-in-law.     George  Ogilvy  died  about  1717. 

John  Ogilvy  of  Balbegno  succeeded  to  the  barony  of  Lunan.  On  30th 
October,  1723,  he  sold  Lunan  to  Alexander  Wyse,  for  11,000  merks  Scots,  in- 
cluding all  rights  and  privileges,  but  reserving  liberty  to  erect  a  monument  on 
his  father's  grave  in  the  church,  a  reservation  of  which  he  does  not  appear  to 
have  taken  advantage.  Alexander  Wyse  is  described  in  the  title  deeds  as  the 
only  son  of  David,  tenaut  in  Mains  of  Laurieston.  On  12th  February,  1734, 
2i 


250  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIRE.  [Paf.t  XIV. 

he  had  charter  of  confirmation  under  the  Great  Seal,  which  was  registered  22d 
August,  1735,  and  iastrument  of  sasine  dated  21st,  and  registered  at  Dundee, 
28th  April,  1736.     He  died  in  June,  1752,  and  was  succeeded  by 

David  Wyse,  his  eldest  son.  He  was  retoured  heir  to  his  father  in  the  lands 
of  Lunan,  9th  May,  1754.  Had  sasine  on  13th  May,  1754,  registered  9th 
July  same  year.  He  was  an  ingenious  mechanician,  invented  a  machine  for 
cotton  spinning,  and  erected  a  cotton  spinning  manufactory  at  Dundee.  His 
eldest  son,  Thomas,  went  to  Jamaica  as  a  physician,  where  he  made  a  large 
fortune,  and  on  his  return  bought  the  property  of  Hillbank,  Dundee.  He  is 
represented  by  his  two  sons — Thomas  Alexander,  M.D.,  Bengal  Civil  Service, 
and  Josiah  Patrick,  merchant  in  India,  who  in  1858  purchased  the  extensive 
demesne  of  Rostellan,  County  Cork,  formerly  the  ancient  seat  of  the  O'Briens, 
Marquises  of  Thomond,  which  became  extinct  in  1855.  David  Wyse  of 
Lunan  sold  the  estate  to  William  Imrie  in  1759.  David  Wyse  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1803. 

The  disposition  of  the  lands  of  Lunan  to  William  Imrie  is  dated  27th 
November,  1759,  and  registered  18th  February,  1760.  He  was  the  son  of  a 
wealthy  farmer  in  Aberdeenshire.  He  died  without  surviving  issue  in  1790, 
his  children  having  all  died  in  infancy. 

The  following  account  of  William  Imrie  is  taken  from  Col.  Blair  Imrie's 
Historical  Account  ah-eady  referred  to  : — 

"  Under  the  apprehension  that  it  was  intended  to  bring  him  up  as  an  agri- 
"  culturist,  he  quitted,  while  quite  a  youth,  his  father's  house  without  com- 
"  municating  his  design  to  any  one,  and  started  for  London,  walking  along 
"  the  coast  road  until  he  reached  Eedcastle.  Having  mounted  the  hill  on 
"  which  the  ruin  stands,  he  lay  down,  fell  asleep,  and  dreamt  that  he  was  laird 
"  of  Lunan.  He  went  to  England,  sailed  several  times  to  India,  married  a 
"  woman  with  money,  and  became  the  owner  of  a  hotel  in  Fountain  Court, 
"  Strand,  London.  This  hotel,  which  was  at  that  time  the  favourite  resort  of 
"  the  Forfarshire  lairds  when  in  London,  ultimately  degenerated  into  the  well 
"  known  '  Judge  and  Jury'  Tavern,  over  which  for  so  many  years  presided  that 
"  celebrated  character,  the  Lord  Chief  Baron  Nicholson,  of  facetious  memory, 
"  whose  fame,  or  perhaps  that  phase  of  fame  which  we  call  notoriety,  was 
"  greater  than  his  achievements,  and  whose  dry  judicial  humour  was  more 
"  remarkable  than  the  purity  of  his  language." 

"  On  3d  June,  1837,  Nicholson  started  and  edited  a  very  equivocal  weekly 
" publication  called  ' The  Town.'      He  'admitted  that  many  of  the  articles 


Chap,  XXXIX.]      ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LCJNAN.  251 

"  therein  were  neither  intended  for  the  eyes  of  ladies,  nor  to  be  read  in  the 
"  refined  circles  of  the  drawingroom,'  but  boasted  that  'it  fearlessly  grappled 
"  with,  and  exposed  every  description  of  imposition  to  be  met  with  in  the  great 
"metropolis/" 

"On  the  8th  March,  1841,  he  established  the  '  Judge  and  Jury  Society'  at 
"  the  Garrickshead  Hotel,  Bow  Street,  Covent  Garden.  This  strange  forensic 
"  convention  removed  to  the  Coal  Hole  Tavern,  Fountain  Court,  Strand,  in 
"  July,  1851,  and  ultimately  settled  down  on  the  16th  January,  1858,  at  the 
"  Cyder  Cellars.  It  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  to  see  the  jury  composed 
"  entirely  of  members  of  the  upper  ten,  and  in  the  judgment  seat  of  his  mimic 
"  court,  with  the  gravity  of  Coke,  and  the  authority  of  Blackstone,  sat  Renton 
"  Nicholson,  better  known  to  the  world  by  the  name  of  Baron  Nicholson.  He 
"  has  been  immortalized  by  Robert  Ingoldsby  in  one  of  his  legends — '  The 
"Ghost/" 

"  The  incident  in  Redcastle  left  a  deep  impression  on  William  Imrie's  mind. 
•'  and,  having  become  rich  in  London,  he  returned  to  Scotland,  and  there 
"  realized  the  dream  of  his  youth/' 

He  took  a  great  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  parish,  and  subsequently  in 
those  of  the  county.  He  was  sometimes  rather  caustic  in  his  remarks  to  his 
brother  lairds,  and  had  ever  a  ready  rejoinder  to  any  uncourteous  notice  taken 
of  himself. 

William  Imrie  had  a  sister  married  to  Simpson.     Their  only  child, 

Agnes,  became  the  wife  of  Alexander  Taylor  (whose  mother  was  Jane  Silver 
of  Netherley)  at  Cushnie,  in  Fordoun.  William  left  Lunan  to  the  husband  of 
his  niece  in  liferent,  and  to  their  second  son,  William,  in  fee,  by  disposition 
and  assignation,  dated  19th  November,  1785. 

Alexander  Taylor  Imrie  assumed  the  name  and  arms  of  Imrie  on  his  succes- 
sion to  the  property,  in  terms  of  the  disposition,  &c.,  by  which  it  was  left  to 
him.  He  had  sasine  of  the  property  on  22d  May,  1790,  registered  at  Dundee, 
24th  June,  1790.       He  died  on  21st  September,  1813. 

William  Taylor  Imrie,  second  son  of  his  father,  the  lifereuter,  succeeded  in 
1813.  On  5th  July,  1838,  charter  of  resignation  and  confirmation  under  the 
Great  Seal  in  favour  of  William  Taylor  Imrie  of  Lunan,  and  registered  15th 
August,  1838,  sasine  following  thereon,  dated  1st  September,  1838,  was  regis- 
tered 5th  September,  1838.  On  24th  October,  1846,  he  executed  a  disposition 
and  deed  of  entail  of  the  lands  of  Lunan  in  favour  of  himself  and  other  heirs 
of  Tailzie.      He  died  on  11th  March,  1849,  in  his  70th  year,  unmarried,  the 


252  '  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

property  being  entailed  on  his  nephew,  Lieut.-Colonel  and  Brigadier  James 
Blair,  eldest  son  of  his  eldest  sister,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Captain  James 
Blair  of  the  8th  Forfar  and  Kincardine  Militia,  &c.,  who  died  at  Tynemouth 
in  1812. 

Brigadier  Blair,  who  predeceased  his  uncle  (1847)  married  Charlotte 
Cecilia,  seventh  daughter  of  Brigadier  General  Jacob  Vanrenen.  In  acknow- 
ledgment of  his  public  services  in  India  for  36  years,  the  Home  Government 
proposed  to  confer  the  honour  of  knighthood  upon  him,  but  he  died  before  this 
intention  could  be  carried  out. 

Near  Buckie  Den  a  monument  upwards  of  forty  feet  high,  in  the  form  of  an 
obelisk,  has  been  erected,  bearing  the  following  inscription : — "  To  the  memory 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Blair,  of  the  Bengal  Army,  born  on  the  7th 
November,  1792.  He  died  at  sea,  on  board  the  ship  Madagascar,  during  a 
voyage  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  undertaken  for  the  recovery  of  his  health, 
on  the  12th  of  August,  1847.  High  in  the  estimation  of  the  supreme  govern- 
ment of  India,  he  had  for  the  last  twelve  years  of  his  life  commanded  the 
cavalry  division  of  His  Highness  the  Nizam's  army,  and  this  monument  was 
erected  by  his  brother  officers,  European  and  native,  to  commemorate  their 
admiration  of  his  character  as  an  officer,  and  their  affectionate  recollection  of 
him  as  a  friend." 

William  Thomas  Taylor  Blair  Imrie,  the  second,  but  eldest  surviving  son 
of  Colonel  Blair,  by  Charlotte  Cecilia,  daughter  of  General  Jacob  Vanrenen, 
of  the  H.E.I.C.S.,  born  1833,  succeeded  his  granduncle  in  the  lands  and  barony 
of  Lunan  in  1849,  and,  in  terms  of  the  entail,  assumed  the  name  and  arms  of 
Imrie.  He  is  the  present  lord  of  the  barony  of  Lunan,  a  J. P.  and  Commis- 
sioner of  Supply  for  the  County  of  Forfar,  and  Hon.  Lieut.-Col.  of  the  Forfar 
and  Kincardine  Militia  Artillery. 

The  heir  presumptive  to  the  barony  is  his  brother,  Henry  Francis  Blair, 
Lieut.-Colonel  Royal  (late  Bengal)  Engineers,  born  1837,  married,  1868, 
Sophia  Grace,  daughter  of  the  late  Captain  John  Bott  of  the  5th  Bengal  Light 
Cavalry,  and  stepdaughter  of  the  late  Giles  Loder,  of  Wilsford  House,  Wilts, 
and  has  issue,  Hugh  Francis,  born  1873,  and  others. 

The  mansion  house  of  Lunan  stands  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  church. 
It  was  built  in  182.5,  and  enlarged  in  1850.  It  has  a  fine  southern  exposure, 
overlooks  the  beautiful  expanse  of  Lunan  Bay,  which  terminates  at  the  bold 
promontory  of  the  Red  Head.  The  view  of  the  ruins  of  Redcastle,  of  part  of 
the  vale  of  the  Lunan  beyond,  bounded  by  the  heights  of  Ethie,  Dickmont 


Chap.  XXXIX.]       ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LUNAK  253 

Law,  &c,  is  extensive  and  beautiful.  The  house  is  commodious,  with  noble 
trees  around,  a  fine  garden,  and  spacious  lawn  adorned  with  shrubbery  and 
flower  plots,  and  beautifully  kept. 

Colonel  Blair  Imrie  very  kindly  placed  at  my  disposal  a  historical  account, 
which  he  has  prepared  with  great  care,  of  the  various  proprietors  of  the  barony 
of  Inverlunan  from  the  days  of  King  William  the  Lion  to  the  present  time, 
from  which  I  have  taken  many  of  the  details  now  given  regarding  the  pro- 
perty and  the  barons  who  have  possessed  it.  Colonel  Imrie  intends  to  have  the 
manuscript  printed  for  private  circulation,  and  it  will  be  an  interesting  and 
valuable  volume.    I  have  to  express  my  obligations  to  him  for  his  courtesy  to  me. 

The  houses  in  the  Kirkton  of  Lunan  have  each  a  flower  garden  in  front, 
filled  with  choice  selections  of  flowers  from  the  Laird's  garden.  He  has  also 
caused  the  sides  of  the  highway  leading  to  Montrose,  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  mansion,  to  be  ornamented  with  rows  of  flowers,  care  being 
taken  that  their  bloom  contrast  well  with  each  other.  There  are  few  public 
roads  so  decorated,  but  the  idea  is  excellent,  the  lines  of  flowers  pleasing,  and 
the  effect  upon  the  rustic  inhabitants  and  wayfarers  is  instructive  and  humaniz- 
ing. Other  proprietors  might,  at  little  cost,  follow  so  good  an  example,  and 
thereby  elevate  the  tastes  of  their  dependants  and  others.  Colonel  Blair  Imrie 
deserves  much  credit  for  thus  contributing  to  the  happiness  of  those  residing 
upon  his  property.  He  holds  that  landed  proprietors  have  duties  imposed 
upon  them  as  such,  the  discharge  of  which  is  incumbent  upon  all,  and  he  per- 
forms them  statedly.  His  own  garden  and  grounds — kept  up  at  very  con- 
siderable expense — have  been  for  many  years  thrown  open  to  the  public  at  all 
times,  notwithstanding  the  damage  which  is  occasionally  done. 

The  barony  of  Kedcastle  in  ancient  times  included  lands  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  Lunan,  those  on  the  right  bank  being  in  the  parish  of  Inverkeilor,  and 
those  on  the  left  bank  of  the  stream  in  the  parish  of  Lunan.  Some  of  the 
early  charters  appear  to  have  embraced  the  whole  lands  on  both  banks  of  the 
river.  In  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century  charters  of  the  half  lands 
of  Redcastle  are  repeatedly  granted,  but  without  distinguishing  their  boundaries, 
or  where  situated.  Details  of  the  changes  of  the  proprietary  of  the  lands  are  given 
in  the  chapter  on  Inverkeilor  parish.  In  the  fifteenth  century  the  portion  to  the 
north  of  the  Lunan  began  to  be  called  Lunan,  to  distinguish  the  lands  from  those 
of  Inverlunan,  both  estates  being  in,  and  comprising  the  greater  part  of,  the 
parish  of  Lunan. 


254  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  lands  of  Inverlunan  were  in  possession  of  the  Stewarts  from  1377  till 
circa  1425.  The  family  appear  to  have  also  possessed  the  Redcastle  portion 
of  the  lands  in  the  parish,  and  to  have  retained  them  some  time  after  they  had 
parted  with  those  of  Inverlnnan.  The  family  had  probably  ended  in  two  co- 
heiresses, Euphame  and  Egilia  Stewart,  the  one  married  to  a  Ruthven,  pro- 
bably connected  with  the  family  who  subsequently  owned  Gardyne,  and  the 
other  to  Tyrie  of  Drumkilbo.  In  each  of  the  above  notices  of  the  properties 
owned  by  these  ladies,  they  are  called,  the  one,  "  the  half  of  the  barony  of 
Lunan,"  and  the  other,  "the  eastern  half  of  the  lands  of  Lunan,  and  half  of 
the  mill  and  mill  lands  thereof" 

On  5th  May,  1625,  James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  heir  of  his  father,  Marquis 
James,  was  retoured  (No.  154)  in  the  lauds  of  Easter  Lunan,  with  the  teinds. 
This  was  probably  only  as  superior. 

On  28th  April,  1483,  before  Alexander  Lindsay  of  Ochterlony,  Sheriff 
Depute  of  Forfixrshire  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  522),  a  retour  of  the  service  of  Walter 
Ruthven,  as  heir  of  Euphame  Stewart,  his  mother,  in  the  half  of  the  barony  of 
Lunan,  was  expede.  It  was  then  valued  at  25  merks,  and  in  time  of  peace  at 
20  merks.  It  was  held  of  the  King  in  blench  farm,  and  it  had  been  in  the 
hands  of  the  Sheriff  for  five  months,  since  the  death  of  David  Ruthven,  hus- 
band of  the  said  Euphame.  The  jury  consisted  of  seventeen  barons,  chiefly 
belonging  to  Angus. 

On  30th  April,- 1606,  William  Ruthven  of  Ballindean,  heir  of  Sir  William 
of  same,  knight,  was  served  heir  (Ret.  51)  in  half  the  territory  of  Lunan, 
called  Courthills,  Drumbertnot,  and  half  the  mill  of  Lunan.  On  3d  March, 
162],  William  Ruthven,  heir  of  Sir  William,  was  again  retoured  (No.  131) 
in  half  the  lands  and  half  the  mill  in  the  barony  of  Lunan. 

The  Tyries  of  Drumkilbo  liad  an  interest  in  Lunan  for  a  long  period. 
Jervise  says  Egidia  Stewart  was  designed  of  Lunan  in  1476,  and  they  must 
have  owned  the  property  for  some  time  prior  to  that  date.  On  3d  September 
of  that  year  she  granted  a  confirmation  charter  to  her  son,  Walter  Tyrie,  of 
the  lands  of  Lunan  and  others,  all  of  which  were  held  in  warde.  On  the  death 
of  Walter  Tyrie,  in  the  end  of  1531,  William  Tyrie,  as  heir  of  his  grand- 
father, Walter  Tyrie  of  Drumkilbo,  succeeded  him  in  the  eastern  half  of  the 
lands,  mill  and  mill  lands  of  Lunan — expede  at  Forfar,  13th  April,  1532.  On 
19th  July,  1610,  William  Tyrie  of  Drumkilbo,  heir  of  his  father,  David,  was 
retoured  (No.  72)  in  the  same  lands  in  Lunan.  These  lands  appear  to  have 
passed  from  the  Tyries  to  the  Hays.      In  1625  Sir  John  Carnegie  of  Ethie 


Chap,  XXXIX.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LUN AN.  255 

purchcased  these  lands  from  Chancellor  Hay.  On  16th  April,  1667,  David, 
Earl  of  Northesk,  heir  of  Earl  David,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  425)  in 
half  the  territory  and  lands  of  Liinan,  which  belonged  to  V/illiam  Tyrie  of 
Drumkilbo,  comprehending  the  lands  of  Hawkhill,  Newton,  Sunnyeast  half  of 
Drumbertnot,  with  half  the  mill  and  half  the  lands  of  Courthill  (Cothill), 
Falsecastle,  Hillend,  &c. 

On  26th  October,  1693,  David,  Earl  of  Northesk,  was  served  heir  to  his 
father  in  the  same  lands  (Ret.  527). 

On  1st  April,  1662,  George,  Earl  of  Panmure,  heir  of  Earl  Patrick,  his 
brother,  was  retoured  (No.  384)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Easter  Lunan.  On 
16th  May,  1671,  Earl  George,  heir  of  his  father.  Earl  George,  was  retoured 
(No.  450)  in  same  lands ;  and  on  27th  April,  1684,  James,  Earl  of  Panmure, 
was  served  heir  (No.  502)  to  his  father,  Earl  George,  in  same  lands.  The  Earl 
of  Dalhousie  has  no  proprietary  interest  in  the  parish  of  Lunan. 

Sir  Peter  Young  of  Easter  Seaton,  knight,  acquired  the  half  of  the  lands 
and  mill  of  Lunan  early  in  the  seventeenth  century  ;  also  the  superiority  of  the 
town  and  lands  of  Arbikie,  all  in  the  barony  of  Lunan.  On  17th  October, 
1628,  Sir  James  Young  of  Invereighty,  knight,  one  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the 
King's  Bedchamber,  was  served  heir  to  his  father.  Sir  Peter  (No.  176)  in  the 
half  lands  and  half  the  mill  of  Lunan,  and  superiority  of  the  town  and  lands 
of  Arbikie.  The  Youngs  did  not  retain  their  interest  in  the  parish  long  after 
the  date  of  the  above  retour. 

The  family  of  Montealt  long  possessed  Arbikie.  They  resigned  the  property, 
and  David  II.  granted  a  charter  to  Robert  Widow,  of  the  lands  of  Ardkegy 
(Arbikie),  in  the  barony  of  Innerliman,  quhilk  William  Mowat  resigned  (In. 
to  Oil.,  57-33).  We  have  not  elsewhere  met  with  the  name  of  Widow  as  a 
proprietor  in  Angus.  The  next  proprietor  whose  name  we  have  ascertained  is 
Alexander  Ardbeky  de  eodem  (of  Ardbeky).  This  flimily  had  assumed  their 
surname  from  their  lands,  but  we  do  not  know  when  they  had  acquired  them. 
They  had  not  retained  them  long  after  that  date.  Walter  Ramsay  of  Arbikie  was 
a  juror  on  28th  April,  1483  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  522.).  James  Ramsay  of  Ardvekie, 
and  James  Ramsay,  junior  of  same,  are  mentioned  on  20th  August,  1583. 
(Reg.  Ep.  m.,  235.) 

The  lands  at  an  after  period  came  into  possession  of  a  family  named  Mudie. 
John  Mudie  of  Gilchorn,  living  in  1570,  had  a  son,  John  Mudie  of  Brianton, 
living  in  1600,  who  was  ancestor  of  the  Mudies  of  Brianton  and  Pitmuies. 
On  20th  April,  1664,  James  Mudie  of  Arbikie,  heir  of  his  father  James  of 


256  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Pabt  XIV. 

Arbikie,  merchant  burgess  of  Montrose,  was  retoiired  (No.  406)  in  the  lands 
of  Arbikie,  as  well  as  in  the  bina  part,  and  in  the  eastern  third  part  of  same — 
A.E.  £1  12s,  N.E.  £6  8s  ;  John  Miidie  of  Arbikie,  end  of  seventeenth  cen- 
tury (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  363).  John  Mudie  of  same  married  Lady  Magdalene 
Carnegie,  latter  half  of  seventeenth  century  (do.  362).  Ochterlony,  1684-5, 
says  the  house  was  then  new.  The  line  of  the  Mudies  has  failed,  and  the 
estate  of  Arbikie  was  left  by  the  last  of  the  Mudies  to  Leonard  Lyell  of 
Kinnordy,  Pitmuies,  and  Arbikie. 

There  are  only  three  freeholders  in  the  parish  of  Lunan,  viz.  : — The  Earl  of 
Northesk,  who  possesses  the  barony  of  Lunan ;  William  Blair  Imrie,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  barony  of  Inverlunan  ;  and  Leonard  Lyell  of  Kinnordy,  who 
succeeded  to  the  lands  of  Arbikie  on  the  death  of  John  Mudie  of  Pitmuies.  In  the 
Valuation  Roll  of  1683  the  parish  was  divided  among  four  proprietors.  The 
estates  are  there  called — 

Earl  of  Northesk,      £900    0    0      In  1882  Earl  of  Northesk's  lands. 

Arbikie,  .  300    0    0  „      Arbikie. 

Sir  Francis  Ogilvy,      116  13     4  „       Lunan. 

EarlofPanmure'sfeu,  233     6     8  „      Lunan. 


£1550    0    0 

The  parish  of  Lunan  contains  1981 '576  acres,  of  which  7*503  are  water, 
and  63*653  foreshore. 

In  1723  David,  fourth  Earl  of  Northesk,  became  embarrassed  in  his  cir- 
cumstances, and  was  compelled  to  dispose  of  his  lands  of  Lunan,  Eedcastle, 
and  North  Tarrie,  with  their  pertinents,  excepting  the  North  and  South  Mains 
of  Ethie,  &c.,  to  trustees  for  behoof  of  his  creditors.  On  13th  February,  1728, 
they  were  exposed  at  public  auction  in  Edinburgh  at  twenty  years'  purchase. 
The  lands  and  barony  of  Lunan  were  bought  for  John  Carnegie  of  Boysack, 
John  Fullerton  of  that  ilk  being  security,  and  Lord  Dun  was  supposed  to 
furnish  the  money.  The  transaction  appears  to  have  been  arranged  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  the  family  of  Northesk  in  possession  of  Lunan,  and  it  still 
belongs  to  the  Earl  of  Northesk. 

By  the  conditions  of  sale  it  appears  that  Lunan  was  held  blench  of  the 
Crown,  "  one  half  for  payment  of  one  penny  money,  and  the  other  half  likewise 
blench,  for  payment  of  one  penny  silver  money  at  the  term  of  Whitsunday,  if 
asked  allenarly." 

The  ground  rises  somewhat  abruptly  from  the  ocean;  and  then  more  gently 


Chap.  XXXIX.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.-LUNAK  257 

till  it  attains  a  heij^ht  of  about  400  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea  at  tlie 
northern  boundary  of  the  parish.  Much  of  the  land  has  a  fine  southern  ex- 
posure.  Lunan  Bay  is  the  eastern  boundary,  the  coast  being  sandy  for  some 
distance,  and  then  bold  rugged  perpendicular  rocks.  Buckie  Den  is  both 
romantic  and  beautiful,  the  burn  which  runs  through  it  forming  pretty  cascades 
in  its  course,  the  falls  varying  from  a  few  feet  to  twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  height. 
The  banks  of  the  ravine  are,  where  not  perpendicular,  clothed  with  shrubs  and 
moisture-loving  vegetation,  flowers,  &c. 

The  North  British  Arbroath  and  Montrose  Railway  crosses  Buckie  Den 
by  a  handsome  lattice  girder  bridge  of  four  spans,  about  seventy  feet  high. 
Travellers  will  thus  have  fine  glimpses  of  the  den  up  and  down  as  they  pass 
along.  This  part  of  the  county  has  hitherto  been  all  but  unknown  to  those 
residing  outside  of  it.  The  new  line  will  open  up  a  picturesque  and  beautiful 
district  of  country  to  the  travelling  public,  and  increase  the  value  of  the  lands 
through  which  it  passes.  A  great  part  of  the  lands  of  Inverlunan  are  well 
adapted  for  villas.  There  the  pent-up  denizens  of  the  towns  in  the  county 
would  have  grand  views  of  scenery  of  various  descriptions — land  and  water, 
pure  air,  and  a  mild  climate.  The  district  is  within  easy  rciich  of  each  of  the 
burghs,  and  comparatively  little  time  will  be  requii'ed  for  the  journey. 

The  southern  boundary  is  the  Lunan,  which  separates  the  parish  from 
Inverkeilor.  It  is  bounded  by  Kinnell  on  the  west,  and  by  Maryton  and  Craig 
on  the  north.  In  some  parts  of  the  parish  the  lands  are  light  thin  soil,  but 
the  large  proportion  of  it  is  good  deep  loam,  which  produces  heavy  crops.  The 
principal  farmers  are  intelligent  men,  who  cultivate  their  lands  in  a  scientific, 
business-like  manner.  The  names  of  some  of  the  farms  in  the  parishes  of 
Lunan  and  Inverkeilor  recall  to  remembrance  the  days  when  the  baron  had 
the  power  of  life  and  death  over  his  people  and  uninvited  strangers. 

In  Lunan  there  is  the  Courthill,  where  the  baron  held  his  feudal  courts  ; 
the  Hawkhill,  where  the  falcons  were  kept  in  the  days  when  falconry  was 
the  favourite  sport  of  the  laird  ;  the  Cothill,  where  the  cattle  and  other 
bestial  belonging  to  the  baron  were  housed,  and  it  was  the  most  useful  of  all 
the  baronial  appendages.  In  the  adjoining  parish  of  Inverkeilor  there  was 
the  Courthill,  and  the  Gallowshill  of  Eedcastle  where  the  drama  terminated 
with  the  death  of  the  victim  of  baronial  law  and  justice.  The  Gallowshill  is 
on  the  farm  of  Ironshill.  The  latter  name  is  where  the  baron's  smith  work 
was  done,  and  the  fetters  for  the  prisoner  forged,  and  it  is  only  another  name 
for  Gallowshill.  The  Gallowshill  of  Redcastle  is  said  to  be  as  complete  a 
2k 


258  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

specimen  of  the  ancient  Gallowsliill  as  now  exists.  It  is  well  for  the  nation 
that  sac  and  soc,  tol  and  tehm,  infangenethef  and  pit  and  gallows,  and  other 
feudal  terms  were  long  ago  abolished,  as  they  would  not  have  been  submitted 
to  in  modern  times.  Farmers  would  not  now  submit  to  be  imprisoned,  at  the 
will  of  the  laird,  in  the  twenty-five  feet  deep  dungeon  in  Eedcastle,  nor  sub- 
mit to  be  hung  to  please  the  laird. 

Two  forts  called  Tappy  Castle  and  Fast  Castle  were  on  the  farm  of  Court- 
hill,  but  no  part  of  them  now  remains.  Fast  Castle  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  prison  of  Redcastle,  perhaps  for  those  committing  less  flagrant  crimes  than 
these  for  whom  the  deep  dungeon  was  reserved. 

Two  Witch  Pools  in  the  Lunan  may  yet  be  traced.  One  of  them  is  a  little 
south  of  Gallows  Hill,  and  the  other  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of  Redcastle. 

By  the  contract  of  marriage  between  David  Carnegie,  son  of  Sir  John  Car- 
negie of  Ethie,  with  Jean  Maule,  daughter  of  Patrick,  first  Earl  of  Panmure, 
Sir  John  became  bound  to  infeft  her  in  the  barony  of  Lunan,  &c.,  in  liferent, 
and  agreed  to  build  a  sufficient  house  for  her  upon  the  lands  of  Courthill,  and 
to  give  her  the  house  and  mains  of  Boysack,  to  be  laboured  with  her  own 
ploughs,  until  the  new  house  should  be  built. 

Alexander  Gavin,  sexton  and  beadle,  or  kirk-officer  of  this  parish  (both  of 
which  offices  had  been  hereditary  in  the  family  from  at  least  1679),  and  Eliza- 
beth Jamieson,  his  spouse,  in  1733  presented  to  the  Church  of  Lunan  a 
baptismal  font  and  hour  glass,  which  are  fixed,  the  font  on  the  pulpit,  and  the 
hour  glass  on  the  precentor's  desk.  They  also  presented  a  hand  bell.  Upon 
each  of  these  articles  there  is  an  inscription  mentioning  by  whom  they  were 
given.  He,  in  addition  to  his  parochial  duties,  kept  a  small  shop,  first  at 
Peatlock,  and  then  at  Denhead  of  Lunan,  and  in  the  inscriptions  he  is  called 
"  merchant,"  although  his  mercantile  dealings  were  of  trifling  extent.  He 
afterwards  went  to  Montrose  (before  1750),  and  was  a  merchant  there.  He 
was  four  times  married,  the  fourth  wedding  having  been  in  1764.  By  his 
first  wife,  mentioned  above,  he  bad  a  large  family.  Some  account  of  the  son 
of  the  beadle  has  been  given  in  the  chapter  on  Kinnell. 


ABSTRACT  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF  LUNA^  FROM  1189  TO  1883. 

SUPERIORS. 

1.  The  Crown  prior  to  1189. 

2.  1189-1428.— The  Crown. 

3.  1428-1496.— Abbey  of  Arbroath. 

4.  1496-1544.— The  Crown, 


Chap.  XXXIX.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LUNAN.  259 

5.  1544-1561. — Abbey  of  Arbroath — to  Reformation. 

6.  1561-1579.— The  Crown. 

7.  1579-1582.— Esme  Stuart,  Duke  of  Lennox,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey. 

8.  1582-1585.— The  Crown. 

9.  1585-1604.— Lord  John  Hamilton,  Commendator  of  the  Abbey. 

10.  1604-1625. — James,  second  Marquis  of  Hamilton. 

11.  1625-1636.— James,  third  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  and  first  Duke  of  Hamilton. 

12.  1636-1642.— William  Murray,  afterwards  first  Earl  of  Dysart. 

13.  1642-1661.— Sir  Patrick  Maule,  first  Earl  of  Panmure. 

14.  1661-1671.— George,  second  Earl  of  Panmure. 

15.  1671-1686.— George,  third  Earl  of  Panmure. 

16.  1686-1715.— James,  fourth  Earl  of  Panmure. 

17.  1715-1719.— The  Crown. 

18.  1719-1735.— The  York  Building  Company. 

19.  1735  onwards. — The  Crown. 

PROPRIETORS. 

1.  Prior  to  1189.— The  Crown. 

2.  1189tol247.— Abbey  of  Arbroath. 

3.  7th  July,  1247. — Anselm  of  Camelyne. 

4.  Circa  1275. — Sir  David  of  Innerlunan. 

5.  1309.— The  Crown. 

6.  Before  3d  July,  1328-1333.— Hugh,  fifth  Earl  of  Ross,  and  Maude,  sister  of  Robert  I. 

7.  1333  to  after  1359. —William,  sixth  Earl  of  Ross. 

8.  Prior  to  1377.— Richard  de  Montealto. 

9.  1377  till  before  1399.— Alexander  Stewart. 

10.  Before  1399  to  circa  1425. — John  Stewart. 

11.  Before  1428  to  1428.— Abbey  of  Arbroath. 

12.  1428  to  14      —William  de  Guthrie. 

13.  Before  14      to  1544.— Abbey  of  Arbroath. 

14.  1544  to  1582. — John  Stewart,  fourth  Lord  Invermeath. 

15.  1582  to  15      — James  Stewart,  fifth  Lord  Invermeath. 

16.  15      to  1598. — John  Stewart,  sixth  Lord  Invermeath. 

17.  1598  to  1653.— John  Gutlirie. 

18.  1653  to  circa  1667.— John  Guthrie. 

19.  1667  to  1702. — Sir  Francis  Ogilvy  of  New  Grange. 

20.  1702  to  about  1717.— George  Ogilvy. 

21.  1717  to  1723.— John  Ogilvy. 

22.  1723  to  1752.— Alexander  Wyse. 

23.  1752  to  1759.— David  Wise. 

24.  1759  to  1790.— William  Imrie. 

25.  1790  to  1813.— Alexander  Taylor  Imrie. 

26.  1813  to  1849.— William  Taylor  Imrie. 

27.  1849  to  —WUliam  Blair  Imrie. 


260  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 


Chap.  XL.— LUNDIE. 

The  Church  and  Chapel  of  Lundy  (Lundie)  were  in  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews, 
and  were  rated  in  the  Old  Taxation  at  24  merks.  (Reg.  de  Aherb.,  238.)  The 
church  was  dedicated  to  St  Lawrence,  martyr.  In  1574  one  minister  served 
Lundie  and  four  other  parishes,  and  George  Cochrane  was  schoolmaster  or 
reader  at  Lundie.     (Mis.  Wod.  Socy.,  p.  353.) 

The  Church  of  Lundie  is  an  old  plain  building  with  a  belfry,  standing 
upon  a  rising  ground  at  the  Kirktown.  This  town,  or  rather  village,  is  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  clachans  in  the  district.  There  Lawrence  Fair  was 
held  in  the  olden  time.  The  manse  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  church,  and 
there  the  minister  resides. 

The  parishes  of  Lundie  and  Fowlis  Easter  were  united  in  1618.  The  union 
was  effected  by  decree  of  the  High  Commission.  Lundie  parish  is  situated  in 
Forfarshire,  and  Fowlis  Easter  in  Perthshire,  and  the  minister  preaches  in 
both  each  Sabbath.  Each  of  the  two  parishes  maintains  its  own  church, 
and  has  its  own  officebearers,  indeed  the  two  have  little  in  common  except 
their  minister. 

The  church  and  manse  of  Lundie  are  near  to  what  remains  of  Lundie  Loch, 
which  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  Cliffs  of  Lundie  (part  of  the  Sidlaws),  and  the 
infant  Dighty  glides  past  the  Kirkton  on  its  journey  to  the  Tay. 

Lundie  is  a  small  parish  at  the  head  of  the  valley  of  the  Dighty.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Kettins  and  Newtyle,  on  the  east  by  Auchterhouse, 
on  the  south  by  Fowlis,  and  on  the  west  by  Fowlis  and  Kettins.  Lundie  is 
about  three  miles  in  length,  by  two  miles  in  breadth,  and  contains  4296*265 
acres,  of  which  107'839  are  water.  The  division  between  Lundie  and  the  two 
parishes  on  the  north  runs  along  the  ridge  of  the  Sidlaws,  excepting  the  farm 
of  Ledcrieff,  which  extends  beyond  the  ridge,  and  runs  down  into  Strathmore. 
Lundie  stands  high,  some  of  the  cultivated  parts  of  the  parish  being  about  550 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Lundie  Heights  and  Lundie  Craigs,  parts  of 
the  Sidlaws,  are  in  many  places  very  precipitous,  and  rise  on  the  west  and 
north  about  300  feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  parish.  At  the  foot  of 
these  heights  and  craigs  lie,  or  rather  did  lie,  a  chain  of  four  lochs,  but  the 
two  southniost  and  lowest  of  the  Lundie  Lochs  have  been  almost  wholly  drained. 
The  northmost  two,  Long  Loch  and  Pillyal  Loch,  have  not  been  drained, 


Chap.  XL.]  A^-GUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LX7NDIE.  261 

indeed  the  area  of  the  former  has  been  largely  extended  within  the  last  quarter 
of  a  century  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  storing  reservoir  for  the  bleachers 
whose  works  are  on  the  Dighty.  The  water  is  collected  in  the  winter  months, 
and  sent  down  the  stream  in  summer  and  autumn.  From  the  two  former 
lochs  the  western  branch  of  the  Dighty  flows,  and  out  of  the  two  latter 
the  eastern  branch.  After  running  two  or  three  miles  they  mingle  their 
waters.  The  high  elevation  of  the  parish  and  the  water  in  the  lochs  make 
the  climate  moist,  but  the  thorough  draining  of  the  land  of  late  years  has 
greatly  improved  the  salubrity  of  the  district. 

Two  derivations  of  the  name  of  the  parish  of  Lundie  are  given.  Both 
suppose  it  of  Gaelic  origin,  the  one  from  Linn-duhh,  the  black  linn  or  pool ; 
and  the  other  from  Liun-de,  the  water  or  pool  of  God. 

Before  the  year  1203  Walter  of  Lundin  gave  the  Prior  and  Canons  of  St 
Andrews  twenty  acres  of  land  and  a  toft,  which  were  tenanted  by  Gillemure, 
and  situated  near  the  Lake  of  Lundin.     They  cannot  be  identified. 

The  Church  of  Fowlis  Easter  and  surrounding  graveyard  stand  upon  a 
knoll  near  the  top,  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  pretty  Den  of  Fowlis,  on  the 
Braes  of  the  Carse  of  Cowrie.  The  situation  is  fine,  and  the  surrounding 
scenery  picturesque. 

The  Church  of  Fowlis  is  of  considerable  antiquity,  some  parties  ascribing 
its  erection  to  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century,  when  the  Mortimers  were 
Lords  of  Fowlis  ;  and  others  to  the  fourteenth  century,  when  it  was  built  by 
the  Grays.  The  church  is  of  the  purest  Gothic  architecture,  88|-  feet  in 
length,  by  29  in  breadth.  It  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  architecture  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  and  it  is  believed  to  have  been  built  by  Sir  Andrew  Gray  of 
Fowlis,  afterwards  Lord  Gray,  in  the  early  part  of  that  century. 

The  first  notice  of  the  Church  of  Fowlis  occurs  in  1180,  when  William  of 
Maule  made  a  gift  of  the  church  and  the  titles  of  certain  lands  to  his  nephew, 
Thomas  of  Maule,  out  of  which  he  was  bound  to  pay  a  merk  yearly  to  the 
Canons  of  St  Andrews.  The  Church  of  Fowlis  is  rated  at  15  merks  in  the 
Old  Taxation.     (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  238.) 

In  1574  Fowlis,  Benvy,  and  Longforgund  were  served  by  Nichoil  Spittall, 
stipend  £116  Scots,  this  parish  having  its  own  reader,  Patrick  Mortimer, 
salary  £,\?>  6s  8d.     (Wod.  Alis.  Soc,  353.) 

The  belfry,  a  modern  structure,  is  upon  the  west  end  of  the  church.  It 
appears  to  bear  an  inscription,  but  we  do  not  know  the  account  it  gives  of 


262  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIFIE.  [Part  XIV. 

itself.  The  offertory  plate  is  made  of  copper,  and  highly  ornamented.  In 
the  boss  is  a  rude  representation,  in  relief,  of  Adam  and  Eve  at  the  Forbidden 
Tree,  surrounded  with  the  words,  WART  DER  IN  FRIDE— i'.e.,  stay  there 
in  peace — which  are  repeated  four  times.     The  bell  bears  date  1508. 

Billings  gives  two  engravings  of  the  church.  He  says  it  "  wants  but  the 
bell  turret  to  make  it  as  perfect  a  specimen  of  the  fifteenth  century  as  Dalmeny 
is  of  a  village  church  of  the  Norman  period."  It  is  decorated  with  the  arms 
of  the  families  of  Gray  and  Wemyss,  the  first  Lord  Gray,  who  is  the  reputed 
founder  of  the  church,  having  married  a  daughter  of  Sir  John  Wemyss  of 
Eeires  and  Kincaldrum  in  1418. 

Sir  Andrew  Gray,  a  zealous  friend  of  The  Bruce,  had  a  gift  from  him  of 
lands  in  Koxburghshire,  and  of  Longforgan,  the  third  of  Craigie  and  Pitkerro. 
A  descendant,  also  Jiiir  Andrew  Gray,  married  the  heiress  of  Sir  Roger  de 
Mortimer,  in  1377,  and  with  her  he  obtained  Fowlis  Easter.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  first  Lord  Gray,  the  supposed  builder  of  the  church.  Tiie 
burial  aisle  of  the  Lords  Gray  is  within,  and  at  the  east  end  of  the  church, 
from  the  area  of  which  it  is  separated  by  the  rood  screen  and  an  iron  railing. 
Within  the  enclosure  are  an  avvmbry  and  a  curious  baptismal  font. 

A  window  of  three  lights  contains  paintings  illustrative  of  the  Last  Day, 
and  over  each  compartment  are  the  arms  of  the  Mortimers,  the  old  Lords  of 
Fowlis,  the  Grays,  and  the  Ainslies,  Along  the  base  is  the  following  inscrip- 
tion in  black  letters  (old  English)  : — In  memoriam  Johannes,  xvi  Domini  de 
Gray,  natmaii  12,  1798,  denat  Jan.  31,  1857,  astat  suae  69. 

The  rood  screen,  which  now  forms  the  partition  between  the  body  of  the 
church  and  the  Gray  aisle,  presents  curious  paintings  of  the  Crucifixion  and 
other  religious  subjects.  In  addition  to  the  usu:d  accompaniments  of  the 
Virgin,  Mary  Magdalene,  St  John,  and  many  people  on  foot  and  on  horseback, 
the  picture  of  the  Crucifixion,  measuring  about  fifteen  by  seven  feet,  con- 
tains some  quaint  figures,  inckiding  the  souls  of  the  two  thieves,  in  the  shape 
of  dolls,  which  are  being  taken  out  of  their  mouths,  the  one  by  an  angel,  and 
the  other  by  a  dragon.  Caiaphas,  on  a  white  horse,  occupies  a  prominent  place 
on  the  left  of  the  cross,  between  Herod  and  the  Centurion,  the  latter  of  whom 
points  to  a  scroll  on  which  Christ's  testimony  is  written.  Over  the  shoulder 
of  the  King,  who  appears  downcast,  and  a  little  farther  to  the  left,  are  the 
head  and  shoulders  of  a  Court  jester,  which  some  suppose  to  represent  the 
Evil  One,  with  a  fool's  cap,  and  having  a  merry  expression. 

The  second  picture,  about  twelve  feet  in  length  by  twenty  inches  in  height. 


Chap,  XL.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- LUNDIE.  263 

which  appears  to  have  been  made  up  from  several  pictm^es,  contains  fifteen 
separate  portraits,  including  a  bishop,  some  of  the  apostles,  and  saints. 

The  third  picture,  which  is  the  panel  on  the  right  of  the  entrance  to  the 
Gray  aisle,  is  about  six  feet  by  six  and  a-half  feet  in  size.  The  figures  of  the 
Virgin  and  Child,  St  John,  and  the  Lamb  are  upon  the  right,  and  a  large 
head,  surrounded  with  rays  of  glory,  is  on  the  left.  Upon  the  lower  part  of 
the  panel  is  a  Pieta  with  all  the  heads,  the  wood  upon  which  they  were  painted 
having  been  stript  off.     The  picture  is  otherwise  much  defaced. 

These  curious  specimens  of  early  art  are  all  upon  oak  panels.  They  were 
probably  painted  by  desire  of  the  second  Lord  Gray.  He  was  one  of  the 
hostages  for  the  payment  of  the  ransom  of  King  James  I.  of  Scotland,  and 
was,  with  several  others,  long  detained  in  England. 

According  to  Scott's  Fasti  it  is  certain  that  between  1610  and  1613  these 
pictures  were  offensive  to  the  Provincial  Synod,  who  ordered  Mr  Mourtoun, 
the  minister,  to  see  "that  the  paintrie  quhilk  is  vpon  the  pulpitt  and  ruid 
laft,  being  monuments  of  idolatrie,  sal  be  obliterate  bi  laying  it  over  with  green 
colour."  This  injunction  was  not  complied  with  so  speedily  as  the  Synod 
wished,  and  a  Commission  was  appointed  "  to  pass  to  the  said  kirk  and  abolish 
altogether  the  foresaid  monuments  ;"  but  before  the  Commission  visited  Fowlis 
Mr  Mourtoun  informed  the  Synod  that  "  my  Lord  Gray  will  demolish  such 
of  the  paintrie  as  is  offensive." 

A  considerable  part  of  these  "  monuments  of  idolatrie"  appear  to  have  been 
destroyed  about  that  time,  but  those  we  have  described  had  been  spared,  and 
we  trust  they  will  be  carefully  preserved,  as  they  are  most  interesting  specimens 
of  the  progress  which  had  been  made  in  art  four  to  five  centuries  ago,  and  in 
some  respects  they  are  unique. 

There  is  a  painted  inscription  upon  a  strip  of  oak  fixed  to  the  base  of  the 
picture  of  the  Crucifixion,  but  it  is  partly  obliterated.  The  following  is  so 
much  of  it  as  can  be  made  out :  —  ...  ndo  .  hor  .  templu  .  mernoro 
rostruxere .  beato  .  Si  .  quaeras .  quoto  .  semel  .  M .  C  .  quad  .  t  iii .  anno .  quo 
fuit  .  is  .  rome  .  cen  .  dus  .  pegre     .     .     .     T  .  .  . 

The  inscription  is  in  old  English  or  black  letters.  It  appears  to  convey  some 
such  meaning  as  that  the  church  was  once  built  in  1143  in  honour  of  the 
Blessed  St  Marnoch  or  Merinocus,  the  same  year  in  which  the  saint  was  at 
Rome  representing  the  King  or  the  kingdom.  There  is  no  mention  of  any 
such  incident  in  the  life  of  the  saint  given  by  Butler.  The  inscription  does 
not  appear  to  be  old,  and  it  had  probably  been  copied  incorrectly  from  an 


264  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

older  and  partly  obliterated  version,  so  that  the  date  "  MC  quad,  t  iii,"  may- 
have  been  placed  instead  of  "  MU  quad  t  ii."  The  long  mark  over  the  C 
being  equivalent  to  CO,  making  in  this  way  the  date  of  1242.  This  is  the 
year  in  which  it  is  recorded  the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews  dedicated  the  Church  of 
Fowlis  Easter  to  St  Marnoch. 

The  church  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  mason  work,  the  walls  on  all  its  sides 
being  built  of  finely  hewn  oblong  stones,  each  stone  having  upon  it  the  mark 
of  the  mason  who  dressed  it.  The  stones  appear  as  entire  and  fresh-looking 
as  if  they  had  only  now  been  erected,  instead  of  several  centuries  ago.  The 
length  of  the  church  is  eighty-eight  feet  ten  inches,  and  twenty-seven  feet  nine 
inches  in  breadth. 

The  principal  door  of  the  church  is  decorated  with  sculptures  of  animals, 
figures,  flowers,  >S:c.  Other  sculptures,  and  the  heraldic  bearings  of  the  Grays 
and  others,  adorn  the  interior  of  the  church.  In  the  graveyard  there  is  an 
upright  monument,  having  a  floral  cross  in  the  centre,  and  on  one  side  a  large 
sword  and  hunting  horn.  A  large  stone  font,  formerly  used  for  baptismal 
purposes,  and  other  articles  once  used  in  religious  worship,  are  to  be  seen. 

We  have  mentioned  that  the  Church  of  Fowlis  Easter  is  supposed  to  have 
been  founded  by  Andrew,  second  Lord  Gray,  in  the  latter  half  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  We  think  it  right  to  mention  that  some  parties  assert,  and  it  is  the 
popular  belief,  that  the  church  was  erected  during  the  crusade  in  the  twelfth 
century,  and  the  story  of  its  erection  is  thus  related: — "  One  of  the  remote 
ancestors  of  Lord  Gray  having  joined  the  crusaders,  and  gone  to  Palestine  to 
assist  in  driving  the  infidels  from  the  Holy  Land,  his  devoted  lady  vowed  that 
if  her  lord  returned  in  safety  from  the  Holy  War  she  would  build  and  endow 
a  church."  It  appears  that  her  lord  had  returned,  and  that  she  had  faithfully 
fulfilled  her  vow,  for  about  the  end  of  last  century  a  large  oaken  beam  was 
removed,  which  at  one  time  supported  the  gallery.  On  this  beam  the  follow- 
ing was  legible — Hoc  Templvm  strvctvm  Fvit  anno  mtllesimo  centesimo 
QUADRAGESiMO  SECVNDO  AB  Agray,  which  signifies — "This  church  was 
erected  in  the  year  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-two  by  A.  Gray." 
Unfortunately  for  this  story  the  first  Gray  who  owned  lands  in  Perthshire  was 
Sir  Andrew,  who  obtained  Longforgan,  Craigie,  Pitkerro,  &c.,  from  Robert  L, 
the  charter  being  dated  at  Arbroath,  12th  February,  1315.  And  the  first 
Andrew,  Lord  Gray,  in  the  time  of  James  IL,  formed  the  church  into  a 
college,  with  a  Provost  and  several  prebendaries,  and  endowed  it  sufficiently 
for  their  sustenance.      The  gallery  and  organ  were  probably  erected  at  this 


Chap.  XL.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LUNDIE.  265 

period  to  make  the  choral  service  more  effective,  and  lead  the  singing  boys, 
customary  in  such  an  establishment. 

William,  son  of  Thomas  Maule,  who  was  at  the  Battle  of  the  Standard  in 
the  year  1138,  had  for  his  services  at  it  a  grant  of  the  lands  of  Fowlis.  lie 
gave  to  the  Prior  and  Canons  of  St  Andrews  the  Chapel  of  Fowlis,  also  the 
pasture  of  eighteen  cattle,  three  horses,  and  one  hundred  sheep.  There  is  no 
Chapel  of  Fowlis  mentioned  in  the  Old  Taxation  Roll  in  the  Reg.  de  Aberb., 
but  in  p.  238  the  Church  of  Fowlys  is  entered,  and  rated  at  xv.  merks.  The 
Chapel  of  Fowlis  gifted  to  the  Priory  of  St  Andrews  may  therefore  have  been 
the  Church"  of  Fowlis,  and  built  on  the  site  of  the  existing  church. 

The  Castle  of  Fowlis  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  Den  of  Fowlis,  a  short 
distance  to  the  west  of  the  church.  It  was  long  occupied  by  the  family  of 
Gray.  Lament's  Diary  contains  the  following: — "1658,  April  29. — The 
young  laird  of  Euelick,  in  the  Brae  of  the  Carse  of  Goury  (in  the  parish  of 
Kilspindie),  married  Fotheringame,  sister  to  the  deceased  the  laird  of 

Poury  ;  the  marriage  feast  stood  att  Fowlis,  the  Mr  of  Gray's  house  in  Angus." 
In  1448  James  I.  dated  a  charter  at  Fowlis.  James  IV.  was  at  Fowlis, 
19th  December,  1497,  and  14s  were  given  to  the'harpar  thair  at  the  King's 
commands.  The  Castle  was  then  the  Palace  of  the  King.  The  Castle  was 
occupied  by  the  family  of  Gray  until  after  the  fine  mansion  of  Gray  was 
erected.  It  was  then  allowed  to  fall  into  decay,  and  it  stood  for  a  long  time 
in  a  ruinous  state.  It  was  rebuilt  a  few  years  ago,  and  it  is  now  the  bothy  of 
the  hinds  of  the  neighbouring  farm,  and  the  dwellings  of  a  few  cottars. 

The  lands  of  Fowlis  came  to  the  Grays  by  the  marriage  of  Sir  Andrew 
Gray  with  Janet,  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  Sir  Roger  Mortimer,  knight, 
Lord  of  Fowlis.  With  her  he  obtained  the  barony  of  Fowlis  Easter,  which 
included  the  lands  of  Liff  and  others.  This  marriage  was  sanctioned  by  King 
Robert  II.,  whose  license  is  dated  at  Dundee,  20th  June,  1377.  In  1669  the 
family  sold  Fowlis  to  William  Murray  of  Ochtertyre,  with  whose  descendants 
it  still  remains,  and  Sir  Patrick"  Keith  Murray  is  sole  proprietor  of  the  parish 
of  Fowlis,  which  is  in  the  south-eastern  district  of  Perthshire,  and  well  up  on 
the  Braes  of  the  Carse  of  Gowrie. 

Some  time  after  the  baronial  fortalice  of  Fowlis  ceased  to  be  occupied  by 
the  lords  of  the  soil  it  became  the  village  inn.  As  such  it  was  often  the  scene 
of  boisterous  mirth,  when  the  "  drouthy  cronies  of  the  clachan"  met  to  discuss 
the  French  War,  or  what  to  them  was  of  more  importance,  the  state  of  the 
crops,  the  merits  of  their  respective  horses  and  cattle,  or  the  gossip  of  the  dis- 
21, 


266  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

trict.  The  change  house  has  been  closed,  but  the  Eoyal  Palace  of  James  I. 
in  1468,  and  James  IV.  in  1497,  is  now  the  residence  of  a  lowly  set  of  daily 
labourers  as  stated  above. 

In  the  churchyard  of  Lundie  there  is  an  obelisk  with  this  inscription  : — 

"  To  the  memory  of  Andrew  Rutherford,  schoolmaster  in  Lundie,  who  died 
4th  May,  1841,  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age,  and  27th  of  his  incumbency.  This 
monument,  as  a  tribute  of  respect  to  his  worth,  is  erected  by  a  number  of  his 
grateful  pupils." 

Mr  Rutherford  was  maternal  uncle  to  the  brothers  Geekie  who  owned 
Baldowrie,  Rosemount,  and  Balbrogie. 

The  church  bell  of  Lundie  is  inscribed  as  follows  : — 

Michael  Bvrgerhvys.  Me.  Fecit,  1617. 

In  the  reign  of  Malcolm  IV.  (1153-1166)  two  brothers,  Philip  and  Malcolm 
de  Lundin,  from  England,  received  grants  of  land  from  the  King.  The  former 
the  lands  of  Lundie,  in  Fife,  and  the  latter  those  of  Lundie  in  Angus.  Thomas, 
the  natural  son  of  the  King,  married  the  heiress  of  Philip,  got  Lundie  in 
Fife,  and  assumed  the  name  "  de  Lundin."  Sir  Thomas  de  Lundin,  the  son 
of  Malcolm  of  Lundie  in  Angus,  held  the  office  of  osfrarins,  hostiarius—  door- 
keeper, or  durward,  or  usher  to  King  William  the  Lion,  and  to  Alexander  II., 
and  hence  the  family  took  the  name  of  Durward  or  Dorward.  Thomas  Dur- 
ward, who  was  also  possessed  of  Lintrathen  and  Glenisla,  conveyed  part  of  his 
barony  of  Lundie,  with  the  Parish  Church,  to  the  monks  of  the  Abbey  of 
Cupar,  in  franh  almoigne,  or  free  alms,  and  these  gifts  remained  with  the 
Monastery  until  the  Keformation.  He  also  gave  to  the  monks  of  Cupar  Con- 
vent one  merk  of  silver  yearly  out  of  his  lands  of  Balmerino,  in  Fife. 

Before  the  time  of  Thomas,  and  some  time  before  1203,  Walter  of  Lundin 
gave  the  Prior  and  Canons  of  St  Andrews  twenty  acres  of  land  and  a  toft, 
which  were  tenanted  by  Gillemure,  and  situated  near  the  Lake  of  Lundie,  We 
can  neither  identify  the  land  nor  the  toft. 

The  most  notable  member  of  this  powerful  family  was  Alan  the  Durward, 
or  Hostiarius,  who  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished  knights  of  the  period, 
and  acq'.ired  a  great  military  reputation.  Alan  succeeded  as  durward  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  Thomas,  in  1231.  He  was  Justiciary  of  Scotland.  He 
married  Marjory,  a  natural  daughter  of  King  Robert  Bruce.  He  was  pro- 
prietor of  many  lands  in  Angus  besides  those  of  Lundie.  By  Marjory  he  had 
a  daughter,  Ermengarde,  who  married,  one  of  the  Soulis  family,  and  his  grand- 


Chap.  XL.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— LUNDIE.  267 

son,  Nicholas  de  Soul  is,  subsequently  became  one  of  the  competitors  with 
Baliol,  Bruce,  and  others  for  the  Crown  of  Scotland. 

Alan  died  in  1275,  leaving  three  daughters,  heiresses,  who  carried  his  large 
estates,  with  his  blood,  into  other  families  (Caled.  I.,  p.  535),  but  who  these 
families  were  has  never  been  ascertained.  It  is  probably  in  this  way  tliat 
Lundie  came  to  the  old  Earls  of  Strathearn.  After  the  death  of  Jane,  Countes.r 
of  Strathearn,  John  lies  (ancestor  of  the  Lords  of  Lile),  had  a  charter  of  the 
barony  of  Lundie  in  the  time  of  David  II.  (In.  to  Ch.,  51-21).  John  Lyell 
had  from  King  Robert  III.  a  charter  of  the  barony  of  Lundy, 

The  Queen  of  Alexander  III.  died  in  the  same  year  as  Alan  the  Burward 
(Hostiarius). 

The  Lauercost  Ciironicle  contains  a  curious  passage  which  shows  the  subtle 
politician  and  accomplished  soldier  in  a  new  light.  The  Scottish  farmers  were 
then  yearly  tenants,  and  the  farms  were  then,  as  now,  often  let  to  the  liighest 
bidder.  On  one  of  his  rent  days  Alan  informed  a  tenant  that  he  had  received 
a  higher  offer  for  the  land  than  the  farmer  paid,  giving  him  the  option  of 
keeping  the  land  at  the  higher  rent,  or  leave  the  farm.  Tlie  tenant  consented 
to  pay  the  higher  rent  if  his  lord  would  insure  him  against  any  further  rise  in 
the  rent.  "  My  right  hand  on  it,"  answered  Alan,  and  the  agreement  was 
concluded  "  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country."  The  same  scene  was  re- 
enacted  again  and  again,  the  rent  being  raised,  the  right  hand  pledged,  and 
the  promise  broken  each  year.  At  last  the  farmer,  when  his  lord  again  offered 
his  right  hand  in  confirmation  of  the  bargain,  exclaimed  before  the  whole 
assembled  company,  "  The  left  hand  this  time,  my  lord  ;  the  right  has  so  often 
deceived  me."  The  laugh  was  turned  against  Durward,  who  "  in  modest  con- 
fusion" (the  chronicler's  own  expression)  hastily  dismissed  the  farmer  with  a  pro- 
mise to  keep  his  faith  for  the  future.  The  Durward  had  many  farms  in  Angus, 
and  it  may  have  been  an  Angus  farmer  who  turned  the  laugh  against  this 
great  hereditary  State  officer  of  Scotland. 

The  portion  of  the  barony  of  Lundie  not  granted  to  the  Convent  of  Coupar 
appears  to  have  come  into  possession  of  Robert,  Steward  of  Scotland  and  Earl 
of  Strathearn,  but  the  history  of  the  barony  from  the  death  of  Alan  till  it  is 
found  in  possession  of  the  Earl  is  not  known.  David  II.  granted  a  charter  to 
John  Isles  of  the  reversion  of  the  barony  of  Lundie  after  the  decease  of  Jean, 
Countess  of  Stratherne  (In.  to  Ch.,  51-21).  John  lies  was  ancestor  of  the 
Lords  of  Lile.  About  the  year  1400  a  charter  of  the  barony  of  Lundie  was 
granted  by  King  Robert  IIL  to  John  Lyell  (Lile).      (In.  to  Ch.,  139-16). 


268  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

Robert,  second  Lord  Lyle,  made  a  settlement  of  his  estates.  A  charter  in 
terms  thereof  was  granted  on  6th  May,  1495,  to  Robert  Lyle,  his  son  and  heir. 
It  included  the  barony  of  Lundie  (Doug.  II.,  p.  164).  John,  fourth  Lord 
Lyle,  gave  his  wife,  Grissel,  daughter  of  Archibald  Beaton,  a  charter  of  Lundie 
in  liferent,  and  their  son,  John,  in  fee,  on  9th  June,  1513.  The  title  ended 
with  the  fourth  lord  (do.,  p.  165). 

On  27th  September,  1412,  Sir  Patrick  Ogilvy  of  Auchterhonse,  Sheriff  of 
Angus,  had  a  charter  from  Archibald,  Earl  of  Douglas,  for  his  services,  of  the 
lands  of  Pitlyell,  in  the  barony  of  Lundin.  On  13th  November,  1454,  Alex- 
ander Ogilvy,  son  and  successor  of  Sir  Patrick,  gave  a  charter  of  these  lands 
to  William,  Earl  of  Errol  (Bal.  MS.  III.)  In  1683  they  belonged  to  the 
Earl  of  Strathmore — valuation,  £233  6s  8d.  They  were  subsequently 
acquired  by  Lord  Duncan,  and  form  part  of  the  Camperdown  estate. 

Andrew,  third  Lord  Gray,  had  charter  of  the  lands  of  Lundie,  forfeited  by 
Robert,  Lord  Lyle,  on  29th  June,  1489.  The  barony  subsequently  came  into 
possession  of  the  Campbells  ;  Thomas  Campbell,  second  son  of  Colin,  first  Earl 
of  Argyle,  born  about  1450-60,  being  the  ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  family. 
Lord  Kintyre,  a  brother  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle,  was  owner  at  one  time.  Sir 
John  Campbell  of  Lundie  married  Isobel,  second  daughter  of  Patrick,  fourth 
Lord  Gray,  widow  of  Sir  Adam  Crichton  of  Ruthven,  and  had  a  charter  of 
the  lands  of  Lundie  on  8th  November,  1539.  He  was  Lord  High  Treasurer 
in  the  reign  of  James  V.  It  is  supposed  that  it  was  Sir  John  who  erected  the 
Castle  of  Lundie.  It  stood  about  a  mile  east  from  the  church,  and  was  occu- 
pied by  the  parents  of  Admiral,  Viscount  Duncan,  but  it  became  ruinous,  and 
has  been  removed,  no  vestige  of  it  being  now  visible,  but  a  farm  around  the  place 
where  the  Castle  stood  is  called  "  The  Castle,"  and  it  keeps  the  old  fortalice 
in  remembrance. 

A.  short  time  before  the  secularization  of  the  religious  houses,  Donald  Camp- 
bell, fourth  son  of  the  second  Earl  of  Argyle,  and  last  Roman  Catholic  Abbot 
of  Cupar,  gave  to  his  cousin,  John  Campbell  of  Lundie,  the  part  of  the  barony 
which  Sir  Thomas  de  Lundin,  the  Durward,  had,  several  centuries  before, 
given  to  the  monks,  and  the  grant  was  confirmed  to  him  by  Leonard  Leslie, 
who  succeeded  as  Commendator  of  the  Abbey.  In  1583  John  Campbell,  the 
then  proprietor  of  Lundie,  was  slaughtered  by  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  Edzell. 
His  brother  of  Balhall  and  two  of  his  cousins  were  concerned  in  the  outrage. 
The  assailants  afterwards,  on  7th  August,  1583,  got  a  remission  for  their  base 
crime.    In  1 627  the  dignity  of  a  baronet  was  conferred  upon  the  then  Camp- 


Chap.  XL.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— LUNDIE.  269 

bell  baron  of  Limdie,  but  the  title  has  not  been  used  for  upwards  of  a  centary. 
On  12th  December,  1636,  the  barony  was  acquired  by  the  Hon.  James 
Campbell,  only  son  of  the  seventh  Earl  of  Argyle,  by  his  second  wife,  and  he  was 
created  Lord  Campbell  of  Lundie  and  Earl  of  Irvine  by  Charles  XL  on  28th 
March,  1642.  He  died  without  issue.  Shortly  after  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  the  barony  of  Lundie  passed  from  the  Campbells  to  the 
Duncans. 

In  1683  the  barony  of  Lundie  was  valued  at  £1000.  It  then  belonged  to 
the  Duncans.  On  30th  April,  1810,  Ledcrieff  was  sold  to  the  laird  of  Haly- 
burton.  With  the  exception  of  Pitlyell,  mentioned  above,  the  whole  of  Lundie 
has  remained  in  possession  of  the  noble  family  of  Duncan,  as  Duncan  of 
Lundie,  Viscount  Duncan,  and  as  Earl  of  Camperdown.  The  kirk  lands  of 
Lundie  belonged  to  Invereighty  (Lord  Gray)  in  1683— value,  £40.  They  are 
now  part  of  Camperdown  estates. 

The  first  Duncan  of  Lundie  was  a  merchant  and  burgess  in  Dundee,  who 
bought  the  property  of  Seaside,  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie,  about  1662.  He  also 
purchased  the  barony  of  Lundie  from  the  Argyle  family.  His  oldest  son 
married  Ann,  daughter  of  Drummond  of  Megginch.  They  resided  at  Lundie. 
A  slab  with  A.D.:  A.D.  dated  1677,  which  was  in  the  old  castle,  and  is  now 
built  into  the  mill  of  Lundie,  is  a  memorial  of  them.  Dimcan  of  Lundie  is 
included  among  Edwards'  Roll  of  Barons  in  1678.  Alexander  Duncan  died 
in  1696,  and  Ann  Drummond,  his  spouse,  in  1693.  Alexander  Duncan,  their 
son,  who  was  Provost  of  Dundee,  died  at  Lundie  Castle,  2d  January,  1719, 
aged  42,  while  he  was  Provost.  He  married  Isabel,  daughter  of  Sir  Patrick 
Murray  of  Ochtertyre.  Jean,  a  sister  of  the  Provost,  was  married  to  John 
Scrymgeour  of  Kirkton,  ancestor  of  the  Scrymgeours  of  Tealing.  Provost 
Duncan  left  two  sons,  Alexander,  his  successor  in  Lundie,  and  William,  who 
was  physician  to  George  II.,  who  on  9th  August,  1764,  created  him  a  Baronet 
of  Great  Britain. 

Sir  William  married  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Thanet.  He  died  in  1789 
without  issue,  and  was  buried  at  Lundie.  His  widow  left  many  articles  of 
vertu,  &c.,  to  the  first  Earl  of  Camperdown. 

Alexander  Duncan  of  Lundie  married  a  daughter  of  John  Haldane  of  Glen- 
eagles,  M.P.  for  Perthshire.  By  her  he  had  Alexander  and  Adam  Duncan. 
Alexander  was  a  distinguished  officer  in  the  army  during  the  American  War, 
and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Lieut.-Colonel.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Smyth  of 
Methven,  but,  dying  without  issue  at  Lundie,  31st  August,  1796,  his  brother, 


270  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

Admiral  Duncan,  succeeded  to  the  estate  of  Limdie.  This  narrative  is  given 
to  show  the  connection  of  the  family  with  Lundie.  A  farther  account  of  the 
family  is  given  under  Historic  and  Noble  Families.     (Vol.  I.,  p.  436.) 

The  following  particulars  from  the  printed  retours  show  some  changes 
in  the  proprietary  of  the  lands,  and  the  names  of  the  lands,  which  are  interest- 
ing :— 

On  29th  November,  1546,  John  Scrymgeour,  Constable  of  Dundee,  as  heir 
of  his  father,  James  (Ret.  No.  561),  in  the  lands  of  Adamston,  in  the  barony  of 
Dronly — A.E.  £10.  On  15th  June,  1676,  Colin  Campbell,  heir  of  his  father, 
Colin  of  Lundie  (No.  46S),  in  same  lauds  of  Adamston.  On  18th  August, 
1604,  Andrew,  heir  of  his  father,  Andrew,  in  Bulzeon  (No.  43),  in  half  the 
lands  of  Balshando.  These  lands  passed  to  the  Campbells.  On  23d  April, 
1674,  Colin,  heir  of  Colin,  his  father  (No.  460),  in  the  lands  and  loch  of  Bal- 
shando, land  of  Kirktoii  and  loch,  dominical  lands  of  "West  Dronly,  loch  of 
Lundie  and  fishings,  Pitermo,  Brewlands,  Easter  Keith  and  Long  Loch  and 
fishings,  Ledyatt  of  Ladycreff  and  Ardgarth,  lands  of  Nether  Smithston,  lands 
of  Pittendreich,  Dron,  &c.— A.E.  £12,  N.E.  £48. 

On  18th  June,  1678,  John  Graham,  heir  of  Master  George  of  Claver- 
house,  his  father  (No.  474),  in  the  barony  of  Lundie,  including  Mains  of 
Lundie   or   West   Dronly,  and  the  others,  as  in  No.  460  above.       On  29th 

October.  1 695,  John,  Earl  of  Strathmore,  heir  of  Earl  Patrick,  his  father  (No. 
536),  in  the  lands  of  Wester  Keith,  Pitlyell,  Brewhouses,  and  Clushmill,  with 

mill  and  mill  lands.     On  9th   December,  1695,  Archib.ald,  Earl  of  Argyll, 

heir  of  Earl  Archibald,  his  father  (No.  539),  in  the  barony  of  Lundie,  as  in 

460  above. 

Rental  of  the  barony  of  Lundie,  whereof  the  victual  is  half  here  and  half 

meill.       It  is  from  a  MS  at  Paumure,  dated  1633,  and  relates  to  the  time  of 

the  Campbells. 

The  Maines  poyes  yearly,  xi.  holies,  viij.  dussone  poutrie. 

Pitermo,  Ivij.  holies,  vj.  dussone  poutrie. 

The  Kirkton,  xl.  holies,  iiij.  dussone  poutrie. 

The  Milne,  xl.  holies,  xij.  capons  and  a  milne  swine. 

Bashando,  xlviij.  holies,  viij.  dussone  poutrie. 

Nether  Smistoun,  xxxvj.  holies,  iiij.  dussone  poutrie. 

Argathet,  x.  holies,  xij.  capones,  ij.  dussone  poutrie. 

Ladcrifif,  xij.  holies,  xij.  capones,  ij.  dussone  poutrie. 

Brewland,  viij.  holies  malt,  xij.  capons,  ij.  dussone  poutrie. 


Chap.  XL.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.-LUNDIE.  271 

Ladyett,  xxxij.  bolles,  iiij.  diissone  pontrie. 

Easter  Keith,  ij°.  mks. ;  but  payed  evir  till  this  last  sett  twa   clialdens  off 

vittuall. 
Pendriche,  ij'^1.  mks. ;  bot  payed  evir  befor  this  last  sett  in  the  hee  yeens  three 

chalderis  of  wittuall. 
Summaoffearms  payit  out  of  the  lands  of  Lundie    is— iii j'=xYJ .  bolles,  halt 

here  half  meill. 
Summa  of  the  silver  duetie  is  iiij'L.  mks. 
gumma  of  capones  and  poutrie  xliiij.  dussone. 

There  were  four  heritors  in  Lundie  in  1682,  and  of  the  whole  valued  rent  at 
that  period,  amounting  to  £1540  Scots,  £1000  belonged  to  Duncan  of 
Lundie,  who  was  at  the  same  time  proprietor  of  Easter  and  Wester  Adam- 
ston,  in  Auchterhouse.     (Contem.  Val.  KoU  MS.) 

The  following  old  lines  refer  to  the  district  of  Lundie,  and  others  south  ot 
the  Sidlaws  — 

"  When  Craig-owl  has  on  his  cowl, 
And  CooUie  Law  his  hude, 
The  folks  o'  Lundie  may  look  dool, 
For  the  day  will  no  be  gude." 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  yearly  wages  of  a  plough- 
man in  both  parishes  was  £2,  and  of  a  maid  servant  20s  with  bounties.  In 
1791  they  were  from  £8  to  £10  for  a  ploughman,  and  for  a  maid  servant  £3 
with  bounties.  These  appear  to  have  varied  a  little  in  some  districcs.  Here 
they  were  two  yards  of  linen  and  an  apron,  with  ground  for  two  lippies  ot 
linseed.  A  day's  wages  of  a  man  employed  in  agriculture  was  Is  without,  and 
8d  with  his  victuals;  of  a  wright,  lOd ;  a  mason.  Is  ;  r.nd  a  tailor,  8il  with 
their  maintenance.  It  is  added-"  These  wages  are  found  sufficient  for  the 
support  of  themselves  and  families  while  in  health,  and  when  m  distress  they 
are  aided  from  the  funds,"  The  price  of  provisions  had  risen  greatly  in  both 
parishes;  beef,  mutton,  veal,  &c.,  from  2d  to  4d  per  lb.  ;  hens,  from  bd  to  Is 
each  ;  butter,  from  4d  to  9d  per  lb.  ;  wheat,  from  Us  to  21s  per  boll ;  barley, 
from  lOs  to  15s  ;  and  meal  in  proportion. 

The  report  says  "  the  names  of  several  of  the  villages  in  the  parish  are  de- 
rived from  the  Gaelic.  Balshando,  the  old  black  town  on  the  back  of  the 
hill;  Lincrieff-,  a  town  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  with  trees,  and  the  like  ;  others 
from  their  situation,  as  Smistoun,  because  mists  lie  long  upon  it,  &c.^ 

In  the  old  Statistical  Account  it  is  said  "the  Lundie  Loch,  which  is  about  a 


272  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

gunshot  from  the  church,  covers  72J  acres,  and  is  60  feet  deep  in  some  parts." 
This  must  refer  to  the  Long  Loch,  and  not  to  Lundie  Loch.  "  There  were  then 
four  lakes  in  the  parish,  all  of  which  abound  in  pikes,  perches,  and  eels,  but 
there  are  no  trouts  or  any  other  kind  of  fish  in  them.  These  lakes  are  the 
fountains  of  Dighty  Water,  which  is  so  beneficial  to  the  country  in  general, 
particularly  to  Dundee." 

The  Account  further  mentions  that  "  at  a  small  hill  about  60  feet  above  the 
lake  of  Pitlyell  there  is  a  remarkable  echo.  When  a  person  stands  upon  this 
hill,  the  surrounding  mountains  of  Sidlaw  forming  a  kind  of  amphitheatre,  he 
will  find  a  loud  cry  distinctly  repeated  three  times  at  least,  if  not  four."  It  is 
added  in,a  note — "  The  following  anecdote  strongly  marks  the  simplicity  of 
country  people : — One  summer  evening  a  young  fellow  sat  down  on  this  hill 
to  divert  himself  and  some  friends  by  playing  on  the  shepherd's  pipe,  an  instru- 
ment upon  which  he  was  reckoned  a  good  performer.  But  he  had  hardly 
played  a  single  tune,  when,  hearing  his  music  distinctly  repeated  three  times 
over,  he  got  up  in  great  terror,  averring  that  the  Devil  was  certainly  in  the 
place ;  that  he  had  never  before  engaged  with  Satan,  and  he  was  determined 
he  never  would  again  ;  whereupon  he  broke  his  pipe  in  pieces,  and  could  never 
afterwards  be  prevailed  upon  to  play  any  more." 

Chap.  XLI.— MAINS  AND  STRATHMARTINE. 

The  ancient  name  of  the  church  and  parish  of  Mains  was  Strathectin, 
Stradechlyn,  or  Strathectyn  comitis,  ecclesia,  or  Earl's  Strathdichty.  In  the 
rental  of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Priory  of  Kesteneth  (Aid.  Mis.,  359-62) 
the  entry  for  the  mill  of  the  Mains  is  de  molendino  de  manys  de  Stra^  dechhj 
comitis  xxxijd. ;  and  the  parish  of  Strathmartine  was  called  Strathectyn 
Martyn.  In  the  Old  Taxation  the  former  parish  is  rated  at  x.  merks  and  the 
latter  at  xvj.  merks  (Pteg.  de  Aberb.,  p.  238),  but  it  is  there  suggested  that 
the  figures  are  transposed,  and  that  the  Mains  should  be  the  larger  amount. 
Both  parishes  were  in  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews.  The  Church  of  Mains, 
under  the  name  of  Strathechtyn,  was  dedicated  to  St  Ninian,  a  disciple  of  St 
Martin,  in  1242,  by  Bishop  David.  In  1249  he  dedicated  the  Church  of 
Strathmartine  to  St  Martin.     The  two  parishes  were  united  in  1794. 

Both  the  churches  were  gifted  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  by  Gilchrist,  Earl 
of  Angus,  between  the  years  1200  and  1207.  It  was  from  him  that  the  Church 
of  Mains  took  the  name  of  Earl's  Stradichty.      Abbot  David  Lichton  gave 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE.    273 

Eobert  Graham  of  Fintry  and  his  eldest  son  a  tack  of  tlie  teind  sheaves  of  the 
parish,  described  as  le  manys  Stradechyne  comitis,  and  from  this  the  parish 
took  its  abbreviated  name  of  Mains.  After  the  church  was  gifted  to  the 
Abbey  of  Arbroath  it  was  served  by  a  vicar-pensioner  under  the  Abbey 
Chapter.  The  name  Strath-dighty  is  descriptive  of  both  parishes,  whicli  are 
in  a  valley  or  strath  through  which  the  stream  of  the  Dighty  runs,  the  one 
parish  being  the  boundary  of  the  other  in  the  strath,  but  it  is  not  clearly  known 
how  the  western  parish  came  to  be  called  Strathmartine.  It  may  be  because 
the  church  was  dedicated  to  St  Martin. 

Strathechtyne  Marty ne  or  Strathmartine  was  an  independent  rectory  in 
Popish  days,  dedicated  to  the  honour  of  St  Martine.  When  Mary  of  Gueldres, 
Queen-relict  of  James  II.,  formed  the  College  or  Provostry  of  the  Holy  Trinity 
of  Edinburgh,  she  conferred  this  church  and  the  emoluments  of  the  parish 
upon  her  new  foundation,  which  consisted  of  a  Provost,  eight  prebendaries, 
and  two  singing  boys.  By  the  foundation  charter,  which  was  dated  25th  May, 
1462,  the  profits  and  emoluments  of  this  parish  Avere  assigned  in  equal  pro- 
portions to  the  four  senior  prebendaries  for  their  maintenance,  the  fourth  being 
styled  Prebendary  of  Strathmartine.  The  Church  of  Strathmartine  was  taken 
down  after  the  parishes  were  united. 

The  old  Church  of  Mains  stood  on  a  rising  ground  on  the  north  side  of  the 
pretty  picturesque  dell  through  which  the  Gelly  Burn  runs.  The  only  part 
of  the  church  now  remaining  is  the  south  transept,  which  the  Grahams 
reserved  as  a  burial  aisle  when  they  sold  the  lands.  The  burial  ground  and 
aisle  were  long  neglected  by  those  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to  them,  and 
building  and  gravestones  became  dilapidated. 

A  few  years  ago  the  graveyard  was  put  into  decent  order,  and  surrounded 
by  a  stone  wall.  The  aisle  was  also  re-editied,  and  ornamented  with  a  carving 
of  the  Graham  arms.  The  south  gable  is  pierced  by  three  lancet  windows. 
Upon  the  west  side  of  these,  within  the  aisle,  a  laver  for  holy  water,  in  a  late 
style  of  the  perpendicular,  projects  from  the  wall.  While  digging  a  grave  in 
1868,  a  carved  stone,  embellished  with  a  representation  of  the  Annunciation, 
was  found,  and  it  has  been  built  over  the  lancet  windows.  The  pot  and 
lily  rest  upon  a  shield  charged  with  the  Graham  arms.  On  the  right 
stands  the  Virgin  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  and  the  lily  is  held  by  an  angel 
kneeling  on  the  left.  The  legends  are  effiiced.  This  stone  may  have 
formed  a  part  of  the  altar  of  the  old  church,  which  had  probably  been 
erected  by  Sir  David  Graham  and  his  wife,  Margaret  Ogilvy,  who,  as  shown 
2m 


274  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part,  XIY. 

below,  had  probably  erected  the  oldest  portion  of  the  Castle  of  Mains  in 
1556. 

When  the  old  church  of  Strathmartine  was  demolished,  after  the  new  church 
for  the  united  parishes  was  erected,  in  the  end  of  last  century,  the  burial 
ground  was  much  larger  than  it  now  is,  the  public  road,  and  the  site  for 
several  cottages  which  were  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  having  been 
taken  off  it.  The  site  of  the  present  graveyard  is  a  rising  ground  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Dighty.  It  is  enclosed  with  a  stone  wall,  and  surrounded  by  some 
old  trees.  If  properly  attended  to  it  would  be  a  beautiful  spot,  the  situation 
being  pleasant. 

In  course  of  the  operations  in  lessening  the  churchyard  and  enclosing  what 
was  left  of  it,  and  in  the  course  of  opening  graves,  several  fragments  of 
sculptured  stones  were  found.  The  largest  of  these  was  found  in  the  bottom 
of  a  deep  grave  in  1813.  On  it  is  the  representation  of  two  serpents,  and  a 
border  of  scroll  work.  On  another  was  a  nude  boy  ;  and  interlaced  work  on  a 
third ;  while  on  others  were  animals  in  relief  on  the  obverse,  and  symbols 
incised  on  the  reverse.  These  stones  were  built  into  the  wall  in  front  of  the 
manse  garden  for  preservation,  but  they  have  all  disappeared  excepting  the 
largest,  which  was  set  up  as  a  termination  to  a  stone  wall.  It  has  recently 
been  removed  to  the  garden  of  a  new  mansion  erected  close  to  the  site  of  the  old 
parish  manse  by  tlie  Laird  of  Craig  Mill.  These  sculptured  stones  are  evidence 
that  Strathmartine  had  been  the  seat  of  an  ecclesiastical  establishment  in  the 
time  of  the  Picts,  there  being  little  doubt  that  the  sculptured  stones  are  the 
work  of  that  people. 

In  1574  the  two  parishes,  Manis  and  Strathmartyne,  together  with  Auch- 
terhous  and  Teilling,  were  served  by  one  minister,  Alexander  Tyrie,  who  had 
a  stipend  of  one  hundred  pounds  Scots  and  the  kirk  lands.  Maister  Niniane 
Cuke,  reidare  at  Manys,  and  David  Tyrie,  at  Strathmartyn,  had  each  a  salary 
of  sixteen  pounds  Scots  and  the  kirk  lands.     (Mis.  Wod.  Soc,  352.) 

In  the  old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  it  is  called  Mains  of  Fintry, 
from  the  old  family  seat  of  Fintry,  which  is  near  the  church.  The  parish  of 
Mains  is  four  miles  in  length,  and  three  broad  about  the  middle,  but  becomes 
narrower  toward  the  extremities.  The  parish  of  Strathmartine  is  two  miles 
long  by  two  broad.  The  united  parish  is  six  miles  long,  by  from  one  to  three 
broad,  and  contains  6320'970  acres,  of  which  19"946  are  water.  It  is  bounded 
by  Tealing  on  the  north,  Murroes  and  Dundee  on  the  east,  Dundee  on  the 
south,  and  Liff  and  Auchterhouse  on  the  west.      The  water  of  Dighty  flows 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE.    275 

through  the  entire  length  of  the  united  parish  from  west  to  east,  and  from  the 
banks  of  the  stream  the  ground  rises  gently  to  the  north  and  to  the  south. 

In  the  old  Account  the  Dighty  is  called  "  This  beautiful  stream,"'  and  it  says, 
"  the  face  of  the  country  has  a  sweet  and  delightful  appearance,  being  all 
euclosed  with  thorn  hedges,  which  are  in  a  very  flourishing  state.  The  soil  in 
the  haughs  is  a  deep  loam,  and  produces  excellent  crops.  The  rest  of  the 
parish,  with  some  little  exception,  is  a  pretty  deep  mould  upon  till,  and  is  very 
fertile."  "  The  old  manse  was  built  in  1760,  and  the  castle  is  said  to  be  of 
great  antiquity,  having  beeu  built  in  the  year  1311,  but  by  whom  is  uncertain." 
The  reverend  gentleman  who  wrote  the  account  of  the  parish  does  not  say 
where  he  learned  that  the  Castle  was  built  in  the  year  he  mentions.  He 
nearly  doubled  its  age,  the  oldest  portion  having  been  erected  in  1556,  as  shown 
below.  He  says,  "  there  had  been  a  Popish  chapel  belonging  to  the  house,  as 
a  farmer,  in  digging  up  part  of  the  foundations  of  the  castle,  found  a  fount, 
altar-piece,  &c."  The  value  of  land  was  rising,  and  it  was  then  generally  sold 
at  28  to  30  years'  purchase. 

By  some  parties  it  is  supposed  that  Gilchrist,  the  famous  Earl  of  Angus, 
had  lands  in  Strathdichty,  now  Mains,  and  resided  on  them,  but,  so  far  as  has 
been  ascertained,  there  is  no  positive  evidence  of  this.  Boece  says  that  Gil- 
christ strangled  his  wife,  a  sister  of  King  William  the  Lion,  at  Mains,  because 
he  suspected  her  fidelity ;  but  implicit  reliance  is  not  to  be  placed  in  him  as  a 
historian,  there  being  a  good  deal  of  romance  in  some  of  his  statements.  Tiie 
names  of  the  early  proprietors  have  not  been  discovered.  In  Gilchrist's  time 
the  district  was  known  |s  Strathdychten-comitis,  or  Earl-Strathdichty.  That 
he  must  have  possessed  the  lands  in  both  parishes  at  a  very  early  period  is 
certain  from  his  having  gifted  both  churches  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  in  the 
beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century.  It  is  therefore  probable  that  he  had  a 
castle  as  a  residence  in  the  district,  but  where  it  was  is  unknown. 

The  Earl's  estates  were  forfeited,  and  the  lands  of  the  Celtic  Earls  of  Angus 
must  have  been  very  extensive,  and  in  many  districts  of  the  county,  as  has 
been  incidentally  brought  out  in  the  proprietary  history  of  some  of  the  lands 
we  have  given.  Gilbert,  the  third  son  of  the  second  Earl  of  Angus,  got  in 
gift  from  King  William  the  Lion  the  lands  of  Powrie,  Ogilvy,  and  Kyneitliein. 
These  lands  were  then  in  the  Crown,  and  may  have  been  part  of  those  which 
belonged  to  Earl  Gilchrist  when  he  was  outlawed,  and  now  given  back  to  a 
descendant  of  his. 

The  lands  of  Powrie  were  at  an  early  period  much  more  extensive  than  they 


276  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

now  are,  and,  when  gifted  by  the  King,  may  have  included  the  lands  down  to 
the  Dighty,  and  for  some  distance  to  the  west  of  the  Dundee  and  Arbroath 
higliway. 

AVhatever  may  have  been  the  extent  of  Powrie  as  gifted  by  King  William 
tlie  Lion,  there  is  no  doubt  tnat  the  lands  now  known  as  Claverhouse,  and 
others  to  the  north  and  west  of  them,  belonged  to  the  Earls  of  Angus  many 
centuries  ago.  On  the  forfeiture  of  the  Umphraville  Earls  of  Angus  early  in 
the  fourteenth  century,  the  Angus  portion  of  their  lands  was  gifted  by  The 
Bruce  to  William  of  Lindsay  (Reg.  Mag.  Sig.,  p.  17).  The  lands  of  Mains 
had  probably  been  acquired  from  the  Lindsays  by  Sir  Malcolm  Ramsay,  pro- 
bably of  Auchterhouse,  as  he  owned  ]Mains  about  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth 
century.  The  Ramsays  were  succeeded  by  Adam  Irvine.  Part  of  the  lands 
of  Mains  appear  to  have  been  acquired  subsequently  by  the  Douglas  Earls  of 
Angus,  who,  as  will  be  shown  in  a  later  part  of  this  chapter,  gave  a  charter  of 
them  to  John  Graham  and  Matilda  Scrymgeour,  his  spouse,  in  1480.  The 
Constables  of  Dundee  also  owned  part  of  these  lands.  On  4th  December, 
1529-aO,  James  Scrymgeour,  Constable  of  Dundee,  had  a  charter  of  the  lands 
of  Earl's  Strathdichty.  He  died  in  1546.  James  Scrymgeour  of  Kirkton 
married  one  of  his  daughters. 

We  now  continue  the  account  of  the  Ogilvys  of  Inverquharity,  the  first 
portion  of  which  is  given  in  the  parish  of  Kirriemuir  (p.  113). 

Sir  John  Ogilvy,  fifth  Baronet,  and  fourteenth  Baron,  and  last  of  the  name 
of  Ogilvy  in  Inverquharity,  sold  that  property,  including  the  lands  of  Kinnordy, 
which  formed  part  of  the  barony  of  Inverquharity,  to  Charles  Lyell  about  the 
year  1790-5.  We  have  given  details  of  this  transaction,  and  some  account  of 
the  family  of  the  purchaser,  supra  p.  113-5. 

Sir  John  served  a  few  years  in  the  "  Greys,"  and  was  wounded  at  the  Battle 
of  Val  de  Flanders.  In  1754  he  married  Charlotte,  elder  daughter  and  co- 
heiress of  Walter  Tullidelph,  LL.D.,  of  Baldovan  and  Balgay,  and  of  estates 
in  the  Island  of  Antigua,  descended  from  the  last  male  representative  of  the 
old  Aberdeenshire  family  of  Tullidelph.  The  father  of  Dr  Tullidelph  was  the 
Very  Rev.  Principal  Tullidelph,  Principal  of  the  United  College  of  St  Leonard's 
and  St  Mary's,  St  Andrews,  1744.  With  her  Sir  John  obtained  Baldovan. 
Her  younger  sister,  Mary,  married  Lieut.-General  the  Hon.  Alexander  Leslie, 
and  with  her  he  got  Balgay.  Sir  John  had  the  choice  of  Baldovan  or  Balgay. 
It  would  have  been  well  for  his  posterity  had  he  chosen  Balgay.       Sir  John 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— MAINS  &  STEATHMARTINE.     277 

Ogilvy  had  by  Charlotte,  his  wife,  nine  sons  and  two  daughters — 1st,  Walter, 
his  heir;  2d,  John,  successor  to  his  brother;  3d,  David,  Lieut.-Colonel,  killed 
leading  his  regiment,  44tli,  at  the  Battle  of  Alexandria,  in  1801 ;  4,  AVilliam, 
who  succeeded  his  brother  John ;  5,  James,  in  the  army,  died  in  the  East 
Indies ;  6,  Alexander,  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Major-General  the  Hon. 
Mark  Napier,  and  died  2d  November,  1846,  leaving  surviving  issue — David, 
married,  1841,  Eliza,  daughter  of  Abercrombie  Dick,  B.C.S.,  and  has  issue  ; 
and  Charlotte,  married  first,  Robert  Macfarlane  of  Donavourd,  Perthshire,  by 
whom  she  has  no  surviving  issue  ;  secondly,  to  her  cousin,  Mark  Napier, 
Sheriff  of  Dumfriesshire,  by  whom  she  has  issue  ;  7,  Thomas,  in  the  army, 
died  in  India  ;  8,  Ramsay,  Lieutenant  44th  Regiment,  killed  at  the  capture  of 
the  Island  of  St  Lucia  from  the  French  ;  9,  Adam,  also  an  ofl&cer  in  the  army, 
died  in  the  West  Indies.  Sir  John  died  in  1802,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son, 

XV.  Sir  Walter,  sixth  Baronet.  He  served  a  short  time  in  the  "  Greys," 
but,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  met  with  an  accident  which  deprived  him  of  the 
use  of  his  limbs  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  unmarried  in  1808, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother. 

Walter  Ogilvy  of  Tullidelph  Hall,  as  the  mansion  was  called  about  1790, 
enclosed  a  great  part  of  his  lands  with  stone  fences,  and  built  some  good 
houses  for  his  tenants.  His  farms  were  let  at  from  one  to  two  pounds  an 
acre,  and  the  old  report  says,  "  People  who  understand  the  art  of  farming  doubt 
if  the  produce  of  so  light  a  soil  will  enable  farmers  to  pay  so  high  a  rent." 

XVI.  Sir  John,  seventh  Baronet.  He  served  some  years  in  his  uncle's 
regiment,  13th  Foot.  He  died  unmarried  in  1819,  when  the  title  devolved 
upon  his  brother, 

XVII.  Sir  William,  Rear- Admiral,  R.N.,  eighth  Baronet,  who  married 
Sarah,  eldest  daughter  of  James  Morley,  B.C.S.,  and  some  time  of  Kempshott, 
Hants.  He  entered  the  Royal  Navy,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Rear-Admiral, 
and  dying  in  1823,  left  issue  by  her,  who  died  26tli  May,  18.54 — 1,  Sir  John, 
present  Baronet ;  2,  Walter,  late  Major,  69th  Regiment,  married,  26th  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  Caroline,  eldest  surviving  daughter  of  the  Kev.  George  Thomas 
Prettyman,  Chancellor  of  Lincoln,  and  Canon  of  Westminster  Cathedral ; 
3,  William,  B.C.S.,  died  in  1837;  4,  James  Balfour,  B.C.S.,  married,  in 
1838,  Anne,  only  daughter  of  Thomas  Kinloch  of  Kilrie  and  Logie  House, 
and  dying  14th  July,  1818,  left  issue — (1)  Arthur  James,  married  8th  August, 
1861,  Mary  Camilla  Letitia,  elder  daughter  of  WilHam  Needham  of  Linton 


278  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

House,  Notts ;  (2)  William  Lewis  Kinlocli,  Captain  GOth  Royal  Rifles,  and 
Anne  ;  5,  David,  late  Captain  in  the  Bengal  Army,  married  Caroline,  daughter 
of  Lieut.-Colonel  Carter  of  the  16th  Regiment,  died  1877;  6,  George  Keith, 
Commander  R.N.,  died  20th  September,  1846 ;  7,  Thomas,  Bombay  Civil 
Service,  married,  16th  April,  1840,  Georgina,  third  daughter  of  the  late 
Samuel  Bosanquit  of  Dingeston  Court,  County  Monmouth,  and  died  16th 
June,  1871 ;  8,  Alexander  Charles  ;  and  Charlotte. 

Rear- Admiral  Sir  AVilliam,  in  one  of  his  encounters  with  the  French  ships 
of  war,  captured  two  pieces  of  fine  brass  ordnance,  which  the  Government  per- 
mitted him  to  retain.  They  are  kept  at  Baldovan  House.  Both  are 
excellent  guns,  and  one  of  them  is  a  beautifully  finished  cannon. 

Sir  William,  at  his  death  in  1823,  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

XVIII.  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  as  ninth  Baronet  of  Inverquharity.  He  was  born 
in  1803,  and  educated  at  Harrow,  and  at  Christchurch,  Oxford.  Sir  John 
was  lieutenant  in  the  2d  Life  Guards,  1826-31.  He  is  a  J.P.  and  D.L.  for, 
and  Convener  of  the  County  of  Forfar,  and  Hon.  Colonel  of  the  1st  Dundee 
Rifle  Volunteers.  He  was  Member  of  Parliament  for  Dundee  from  1857  till 
1873-4.  Sir  John  married,  first,  in  July,  1831,  Juliana  Barbara,  youngest 
daughter  of  Lord  Henry  Howard,  brother  of  Bernard,  Duke  of  Norfolk.  She 
died  in  1833,  leaving  issue,  Reginald  Alexander,  born  1832.  He  was  educated 
at  Oriel  College,  Oxford,  is  a  Dep.-Lieut.  and  a  ISIagistrate  for  Forfarshire, 
and  Lieut.-Colonel  in  the  Forfarshire  Militia,  married,  1859,  Hon.  Olivia 
Barbara  Kinnaird,  daughter  of  George,  ninth  Baron  Kinnaird,  and  by  her, 
who  died  in  1871,  has  issue  a  son,  Angus  Howard  Reginald,  born  1868,  and 
other  issue.  Juliana,  born  1833,  married  in  1858  to  Sir  Nelson  Rycroft,  fourth 
Baronet  of  Calton,  Yorkshire. 

Sir  John  married,  secondly,  in  1836,  Lady  Jane  Elizabeth  Howard,  third 
daughter  of  Thomas  Howard,  sixteenth  Earl  of  Suffolk,  and  ninth  Earl  of 
Berkshire.  She  died  on  28th  July,  1861,  leaving  issue — Henry  Thomas,  born 
1837  ;  Rev.  Charles  William  Norman,  born  1839,  Rector  of  Barton-le-Street, 
married,  1870,  Hon.  Emily  Priscilla  Marcia  Ponsonby,  daughter  of  Charles 
Frederick,  second  Baron  de  Mauley  ;  and  three  daughters — Fanny  Henrietta, 
Edith  Isabel,  and  Evelyn  Constance  Maud.  Seat,  Baldovan  House,  Forfar- 
shire. 

Arms — Quarterly :  1st  and  4th  argent,   a  lion  passant-guardant  gules,  gorged  with  an 
open  Crown,   and  crowned  with  a    close    imperial  one  or,   Oyilvy ;    2d  and    3d, 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MAINS  &  STEATHMARTINE.    279 

argent,  an  eagle  displayed  sable,  beaked  and  membered  gules,  Ramsay  of  AuchUr- 
hoiise. 
Crest — A  demi-lion  gules. 

Supporters — Two  wild  men  wreathed  about  the  head  and  temples  with  leaves,   and  hold- 
ing branches  in  tlieir  exterior  hands  all  proper. 
Motto — Over  crest  on  a  ribbon — Forward  Terrens  Pericula  Sperno   (I  despise   earthly 
dangers). 

We  were  very  much  gratified  with  a  visit  made  to  the  Baldovan  Asyhim 
and  Orphanage.  The  Asylum  and  Orphanage  adjoin  and  communicate,  but 
the  two  establishments  are  quite  distinct  in  their  object  and  in  their  manage- 
ment. Everything  in  and  about  the  Asylum  and  Orphanage  is  well  arranged, 
in  excellent  order,  and  scrupulously  clean.  The  domestic  arrangements  are 
admirably  adapted  to  ensure  the  comfort  and  health  of  the  patients,  and  to 
ameliorate  their  sad  mental  and  physical  condition. 

The  maximum  number  of  patients  allowed  in  the  Asylum  by  the  Board  of 
Lunacy  is  seventy,  and  on  our  visit  there  were  within  three  or  four  of  that 
number  present. 

The  Orphanage  is  for  the  support  and  education  of  female  orphans  and  other 
destitute  girls  in  connection  with  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Dundee  and  neigh- 
bourhood. There  are  generally  about  twenty-five  children  in  the  Orphannge, 
and  tliey  are  educated,  instructed  in  religious  knowledge,  and  trained  for 
becoming  useful  members  of  society.  The  Orphanage  is  an  excellent  home 
for  the  girls. 

The  Governor  and  Matron  know  their  work,  and  perform  it  with  zeal  and 
care,  and  with  much  success. 

The  combined  Asylum  and  Orphanage  is  a  handsome  building  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Dighty,  with  a  southern  exposure,  and  protected  on  the  north  by 
high  ground.  There  is  a  neat  lodge,  and  the  grounds  are  tastefully  laid  out, 
and  have  a  pleasing  appearance. 

The  Lady  Jane  Ogilvy  was  abundant  in  good  works.  She  regularly  visited 
the  sick  and  indigent  in  the  district  around  Baldovan  House,  and  her  minis- 
trations and  charitable  deeds  were  highly  appreciated. 

The  Baldovan  Asylum  and  Orphanage,,  of  which  we  have  given  a  short 
account  above,  were  estabhshed  mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of  Lady 
Jane,  and  they  are  a  standing  memorial  of  her  worth.  The  Asylum  is  under 
the  patronage  of  Her  Most  Gracious  Majesty  The  Queen.  The  Earls 
of  Strathmore,  Southesk,  and  Dalhousie  are  patrons  of  the  Asylum. 

The  Lady  Jane  Ogilvy  lived  beloved  and  died  lamented. 


280  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIEE.  [Part  XIY. 

Baldovan  House,  the  handsome  mansion  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  Bart,  of  Inver- 
quharity,  is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  gently  rising  bank  on  the  left  of  the 
Dighty.  The  site  was  happily  chosen,  the  scenery  around  being  rich  and 
beautiful.  The  views  obtained  from  the  house  of  the  vale  or  strath  through 
which  the  stream  flows  are  very  fine. 

The  front  of  the  house  consists  of  a  centre  and  two  wings.  It  is  of  three 
storeys,  the  principal  rooms,  which  are  large  and  elegant,  being  on  the  first 
floor,  which  is  reached  by  a  double  fiight  of  steps  in  front  of  the  mansion.  The 
style  of  architecture  is  plain,  but  the  building  is  chaste  and  pleasing.  It 
stands  in  the  centre  of  an  extensive  park,  with  a  beautiful  lawn  in  front,  a  tine 
garden  to  the  east,  pretty  parterres  gay  with  flowers  to  the  west  and  north, 
behind  which  the  ground  rises  rajtidly,  and  is  adorned  with  a  plantation  of 
large  trees.  Some  splendid  trees  on  other  parts  of  the  park  add  greatly  to  the 
amenity  of  this  fine  mansion,  and  make  it  a  very  desirable  residence.  It  is 
quite  protected  from  northern  Avinds  by  the  wooded  hill  behind,  and  the  air 
around  the  mansion  is  mild  and  balmy. 

The  noble  trees  which  stud  the  grounds  show  that  the  soil,  instead  of  being 
light,  as  in  1790  it  was  said  to  be,  must  be  rich  and  deep.  Sir  John  pointed 
out  several  Spanish  chestnut  and  other  trees,  planted  by  himself  in  his  younger 
years,  which  have  already  attained  a  good  height,  and  measure  from  seven  to 
eight  feet  in  circumference.  The  many  large  evergreen  shrubs  about  the 
house  and  the  approaches  to  it  attest  the  kindly  nature  of  the  soil. 

The  ancestral  burial  place  of  the  Ogilvys  of  Inverquharity  is  within  the 
Church  of  Kirriemuir,  but  Sir  John  Ogilvy  has  erected  a  burial  vault  upon 
the  site  of  the  old  Church  of  Strathmartine.  There  the  Lady  Jane,  second 
wife  of  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  and  daughter  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  was 
interred. 

The  present  estate  of  Baldovan  had  no  doubt  been  included  in  the  territories 
of  the  Celtic  Earls  of  Angus  in  early  times,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  whole 
of  the  lands  in  the  parish  of  Strathmartine  had  been  owned  by  the  same 
parties  after  passing  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Earls  of  Angus,  as  were  the  lands 
in  Mains  parish,  already  related,  but  we  have  not  found  positive  evidence  of 
this. 

The  lands  of  Baldovan,  like  those  in  LifF  and  others,  were  divided  into  a 
number  of  small  properties  in  early  times.  In  the  latter  half  of  the  sixteenth 
century  the  lands  of  Baldovan  and  Strathmartine,  with  the  mill,  belonged  to 
Henry  Eickerton  of  Cash,  in  Strathmiglo  parish.      He  was  succeeded  by  his 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMAETINE.  281 

son,  Andrew,  27th  April,  1603  (Ret.  35).  Walter  Drummond  possessed  the 
fourth  part  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Baldovan  in  the  sixteenth  century.  On 
18th  February,  1604,  James,  son  of  Walter  Drummond,  portioner  of  Baldovan, 
was  retoured  (No.  42)  in  same  lands — O.E.  20s,  N.E.  £4:.  John  Scryrageour, 
Viscount  of  Dudhope,  was  proprietor  of  the  lands  of  Baldovan  and  Strath- 
martine  in  the  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  On  25th  April,  1643, 
James,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  succeeded  his  father.  Viscount  John  (No.  280), 
in  same  lands  ;  and  on  4th  November,  1644,  John,  Viscount  of  Dudhope. 
succeeded  his  father.  Viscount  James  (No.  287),  in  Baldovan,  Strathmartine, 
including  the  lands  of  Balmydown,  Kirkton  of  Strathmartine,  lands  of  Hill- 
house,  Baldragon,  Auchinharrie,  and  Bridgend  of  Auchray,  united  in  the 
barony  of  Baldovan.  The  Scrymgeours  appear  to  have  disposed  of  Baldovan 
shortly  after  the  date  of  last  retour. 

Ochterlony,  1684-5,  states  that  Baldovan  was  possessed  by  a  person  called 
Nairne,  whose  predecessors  were  lairds  of  Sandfoord,  in  Fife.  In  the  Valua- 
tion Roll  of  1683  the  parish  of  Strathmartine  is  stated  thus  : — Strathmartine, 
including  Baldovan's  purchase,  £550  ;  Robert  Bultie's  acres,  ;£80 ;  Baldovan, 
£550 — £1180.  In  1882  the  lands  are  called  Strathmartine  and  Baldovan*,  before 
1748  divided  thus  :— Strathmartine,  £713  14s  4d ;  Baldragon,  £80.  These 
portions  were  acquired  by  Admiral  Laird,  value  i0793  14s  4d  ;  Baldovan, 
acquired  by  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  Bart.,  £386  5s  8d— £1180. 

David  Wedderburn  of  Wedderburn,  born  1710,  acquired  the  estate  of 
Baldovan,  then  called  The  Bank,  but,  disliking  it  for  a  residence,  he  sold  it  to 
Walter  Tullidelph,  LL.D.,  but  we  do  not  know  the  year.  David  Wedderburn 
died  in  1761.  (Act.  of  Wed.  of  Wed.,  p.  24.)  Dr  Tullidelph  gave  the 
mansion  house  the  name  of  Tullidelph  Hall,  but  it  was  subsequently  changed 
to  The  Bank.  For  many  years  it  has  been  known  by  the  old  name  of  the 
lands,  viz.,  Baldovan. 

We  have  already  stated  that  it  is  not  positively  known  whether  Sir  Walter 
Ogilvy  of  Lintrathen  or  Sir  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity  was  the  elder 
brother  of  the  two.  We  are  not  able  to  decide  this  doubtful,  but,  to  the  respec- 
tive families,  very  important  matter,  but  the  following  details  bearing  on  the 
subject  are  interesting :  — 

It  is  noticeable  that  in  the  charter  to  Walter  Ogilvy  of  the  lands  of  Carcary, 
in  1400,  the  brother  John  is  passed  over  in  the  reversion  in  favour  of  Alex- 
ander, the  Sheriff,  the  eldest  brother.       There  must  have  been  a  reason  for 
this.      It  could  not  have  been  that  John  was  a  needy  younger  brother,  but 
2n 


282  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIKE.  [Part  XIV. 

rather  for  the  contrary  reason,  as  he  was  at  this  time  considered  as  being 
well  provided  for,  as  holding,  it  may  be  assumed,  the  lucrative  and  important 
office  of  Under-Sheriff,  an  office  that  was  for  life,  by  Royal  favour  only,  and 
one  requiring  the  King's  confirmation,  and  one,  too,  that  was  eagerly  sought 
after  by  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Oures  and  Beaufort,  the  other  brother  of  Alexander, 
Sheriff  of  Angus. 

If  there  be  any  difference  between  the  offices  of  Under  and  Deputy,  we 
apprehend  it  would  be  in  favour  of  the  former,  in  this  respect — that  whereas 
there  might  be  one  or  more  deputies  to  a  Sheriffdom  (there  were  two  in  1513, 
1514,  and  1535),  there  could  be  but  one  Under-Sheriff.  In  1540,  at  a  time 
when  Walter  of  Beaufort  was  undoubtedly  Sheriff,  we  find  Sir  John  Ogilvy 
of  Lintrathen,  Kt.,  a  person  of  large  possessions,  acting  as  Depute-Sheriff  in  a 
subordinate  manner.  From  the  death  of  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy,  the  Sheriff,  in 
1392,  to  the  death  of  John  Ogilvy  of  Inverquharity,  in  1432-3,  no  one  appears 
as  Under  or  Depute  Sheriff  except  the  said  John ;  it  is  likely,  therefore,  that 
he  held  this  office  for  all  that  period.  Such  an  office  would  naturally  fall  to 
the  nearest  agnate  of  the  Sheriff  of  a  hereditary  Sheriffdom,  of  age  and 
capability.  This,  then,  is  a  strong  presumption  that  John  was  elder  than  his 
brother  Walter. 

We  have  not  ascertained  through  whose  hands  the  lands  of  Strathmartine 
passed  prior  to  the  sixteenth  century,  but  early  in  that  century,  if  not  pre- 
viously, they  came  into  possession  of  a  fiimily  named  Winton. 

On  28th  May,  1559,  Andrew  Wintoun  of  Stradicht3^-Martin  granted  ane 
precept  of  sasine  to  his  dear  friend,  James  Scrymgeour  of  Balbeuchly,  to  infeft 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  Scrymgeour.  daughter  of  John  Scrymgeour,  Constable  of 
Dundee,  in  terms  of  the  contract,  in  half  the  lands  of  Strathdichty-Martin, 
with  pertinents,  in  the  barony  of  Rescobie  and  regality  of  St  Andrews,  given 
to  her  in  her  pure  virginity.  This  precept  was  subscribed  at  Dudhope  prior 
to  the  marriage  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth.  She  was  to  have  the  income  of  the 
lands  during  all  her  life. 

On  21st  September,  1699,  Thomas  AVynton  of  Strathmartine,  heir  of 
Patrick,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  555)  in  the  lands  of  Strathmartine, 
Auchinharie,  Gulhouses,  Balmydown,  Baldragon,  and  Pitempen ;  lands  of 
Kirkton  of  Strathmartine,  of  Bridgend  of  Auchray  ;  lands  and  mill  of 
Fallaws  ;  lands  of  Pitpointie,  all  in  the  barony  of  IJescobie  and  regality  of  St 
Andrews,  and  united  in  the  tenandriam  of  Strathmartine. 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMAETINE.    283 

The  Eev.  David  Maxwell,  who  was  one  of  the  last  descendants  of  the  old 
family  of  Maxwell  of  Tealing,  was  minister  of  Eassie  and  Nevay,  from  which 
parish  he  was  translated  to  Strathmartine,  in  1751.  Besides  being  minister, 
he  was  also  chief  heritor  of  the  parish  of  Strathmartine.  He  died  on  6th  June, 
1774,  lea\dng  the  interest  of  £100  for  the  education  of  four  poor  scholars  in 
the  parish.  The  money  was  dissipated  or  lost  many  years  ago.  Several  such 
bequests  have  been  left  by  charitable  people  in  the  county,  but,  through  mis- 
management or  misappropriation,  few  of  them  are  now  available. 

It  was  probably  from  the  family  or  trustees  of  the  minister  that  the  estate 
of  Strathmartine  was  acquired  by  the  succeeding  proprietor. 

The  estate  of  Strathmartine  was  purchased  by  Admiral  Laird  in  or  about 
1785.  He  was  the  son  of  a  corn  merchant  in  Dundee,  entered  the  Navy,  dis- 
tinguished himself  during  the  American  War,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Admiral. 
He  paid  £15,000  for  the  property,  and  expended  about  as  much  in  its  im- 
provement. He  kept  the  lands  in  his  own  hands  for  some  years,  and  enclosed 
the  greater  part  of  them  with  substantial  stone  fences.  He  also  enclosed  about 
200  acres  of  Clatto  moor  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the  parish  of  Strathmartine 
with  an  earthen  feuce,  planted  about  one-fourth  of  it  with  hardwood  trees,  and 
brought  the  estate  into  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  At  thirty  years'  purchase 
on  the  present  rental  of  the  estate,  it  is  worth  four  times  the  sum  the  Admiral 
paid  for  it  and  expended  upon  it.  This  shows  how  rapidly  land  has  risen  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Dundee.  Admiral  Laird  died  in  1811,  and  was  buried 
within  an  enclosure  in  the  old  churchyard  of  Strathmartine.  His  descendants, 
to  whom  he  left  so  valuable  an  estate,  have  forgotten  to  put  up  even  a  plain 
headstone  to  mark  the  spot  where  his  remains  lie.  Colonel  David  Laird,  of 
the  Forfar  and  Kincardine  Militia,  succeeded  to  the  estate  on  the  death  of  his 
grandfather,  the  Admiral. 

Colonel  Laird  took  down  the  old  Castle  of  Strathmartine,  and  built  a  good 
mansion  with  oflSces  and  garden  at  a  little  distance  from  it.  The  farm  on 
which  it  is  built  continues  to  be  called  the  Castle. 

By  the  exertions  and  public  spirit  of  David  Laird  of  Strathmartine  two 
bridges  were  erected  on  the  Dighty,  one  on  the  road  leadiag  from  Glamis  to 
the  Carse  of  Gowrie,  at  Rosemill ;  and  the  other  on  the  road  leading  from  the 
Sidlaws  to  Dundee,  at  Brigfoot.  Another  was  built  at  Westmill  of  Baldov.in, 
and  the  Baker  Incorporation  also  built  a  bridge  across  the  stream  close  by 
their  flour  mills  at  Baldovan.  On  his  death,  about  1872,  his  daughter, 
Catherme,  succeeded  to  the  estate.      In  1874  she  was  married  to  Augustus 


284  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XI 7. 

Beaty  Bradbury.      He  died  in  1875,  and  she  is  Lady  of  the  barony  of  Strath- 
martin  e. 

Balmuir  was,  in  early  times,  part  of  the  wide  territory  of  the  Earls 
of  Angus,  and  was  in  the  barony  and  regality  of  Kirriemuir.  The 
Fothringhams  of  Powrie  appear  to  have  possessed  Balmuir  in  the  fifteenth 
century.  The  Grahams  had  not  been  long  in  Balargus  when  questions  arose 
between  them  and  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie  and  Balmuir,  about  the 
marches  of  Balmuir  and  Balargus,  and  on  5th  and  20th  May,  1508,  an  agree- 
ment was  entered  into  by  them  on  the  subject.  The  Fothringhams  continued 
in  possession  of  Balmuir  for  a  long  time  after  that  date.  On  29th  June,  1655, 
Elizabeth-Cecilia,  and  Jean  Fothringham,  heirs  portioners  of  Thomas  Fothring- 
ham of  Powrie,  their  father,  were  retoured  (No.  346)  in  the  lands  of  Balmuir, 
with  the  corn  and  waulk  mills  of  the  same,  within  the  lordship  and  regality  of 
Kirriemuir— O.E.  £3,  N.E.  £12. 

The  Grahams  of  Meathie  had  probably  acquired  Balmuir  from  these  ladies, 
as  they  were  proprietors  of  Balmuir  long  before  the  end  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  tenants  of  Powrie  some  time  thereafter.  Son  succeeded  father  in 
Balmuir  for  several  generations.  James  Graham  of  Balmuir  is  mentioned  in 
1754,  another  of  the  same  name  in  1769,  and  other  lairds  of  the  Graham 
family  afterwards. 

James  Graham  of  Balmuir  commenced  a  book  in  1683,  into  which  he 
entered  many  interesting  details  regarding  his  purchases  and  sales ;  the  dates 
when  he  commenced  to  sow  and  to  reap  ;  the  produce  of  his  crops  and  the 
prices  obtained  for  them ;  the  bestial  bought  and  sold  ;  the  servants,  male  and 
female,  employed,  and  the  wages  and  perquisites  given  them ;  annual  inventories 
of  his  stock,  heritable  property,  and  money,  and  many  other  particulars  re- 
garding the  management  of  his  estate,  and  his  intercourse  with  neighbaring 
proprietors  and  farmers.  We  intended  to  give  these  particulars,  but  for  want 
of  room  can  only  give  a  few  of  them. 

By  the  death  of  a  relative  in  London  named  Webster,  and  in  compliance 
with  his  will,  James  Graham  of  Balmuir  took  the  name  of  Webster.  After 
Balmuir  and  Whitfield  (which,  united,  were  called  Powrie  in  the  1683  valua- 
tion) were  divided,  before  1748,  Balmuir  was  rated  at  £2(iQ  13s  4d,  and  James 
Webster  was  the  name  of  the  laird  in  1822.  His  son  James  was  proprietor 
in  1864,  and  sold  the  estate  to  John  Sharp,  merchant,  Dundee,  whose  father 
was  a  flaxspinner  in  Dundee,  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  staple  trade  of  the 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE.    285 

town.     The  house  of  Balmuir  is  an  old,  plain,  but  comfortable  building,  which 
the  proprietor  generally  occupies  for  a  short  time  in  summer,  as  he  has  a 
handsome  mansion,  Fernhall,  West  Ferry,  in  which  he  resides. 
Farm  servants  wages  from  Martinmas,  1689,  to  do.,  1690: — 
Pat.  Mitchall,  on  sout  of  yld  cloathes,  and  on  shirt,  and  in  money 

for  shous  and  fed,  .  •  •  •  •  ^^6  13    4 

Eob.  Darme,  four  els  of  gray,  twa  shirts,  and  two  pare  shous,  and 

19      0     0 
money  fee,  .  •  •  •  •  •  i^    u    u 

James  Stuart,  four  ells  gray,  two  shirts,  two  pair  shous,        .  11     0     0 

Jno.  Sinvowd,  four  ells  gray,  two  shirts,  two  pair  shous,        .  03     0     0 

And.  Millar,  four  ells  gray,  two  shirts,  two  pair  shous,  no  fee,  0    0    0 

Elspit  Anderson,  on  pair  of  shous,  and  in  money,      .  •  12    0    0 

Janet  Brown,  on  pair  shous,  on  ell  of  linen,  and  on  westcoat,  pro- 
viding she  brew,  in  money,         .  .  •  .  10    0     0 
Joan  Skirling,  four  ells  plading,  on  shirt,  on  ell  linen,  and  on  pair 

shous, 6  13    4 

Mar.  Malcolm,  six  ells  plading,  on  pair  shous,  four  ells  of  harn, 

and  half  an  ell  for  bodies,  on  ell  linen,  .  •  0     0    0 

Do.  from  Martinmas,  1690,  to  do.,  1691— 
22d  Sep.,  1690,  agreaed  wt  Pa.  Fleming,  for  on  year,  for  fea  and 

Buntois,  and  all,  won  pair  old  shous,      .  •  •  20    0    0 

James  Stuart,  ane  pair  shous,  two  shirts,  and  four  ells  of  gray, 

and  m  money,     .  .  •  •  •  •  ^-    v 

Alex.  Strok,  two  pair  of  shous,  two  shirts,  four  ells  of  gray,  and 

09  0    0 
m  money,           .            •            •            •            •            •            ut'    u    u 

Alex.  Mackie,  two  pair  of  shous,  two  shirts,  on  bonnet,  four  ells 

gray  to  mend  and  mack,  .  •  •  •  00  14    0 

10  0     0 
Margaret  Blair,  money  for  all  is        .            •            •            •  on 

Margaret  Button,  an  westcoat,  an  shirt,  and  in  money,  .  07    0    0 

Isobell  Dargie,  four  ells  of  plaidiug,  six  quarter  for  bodies  and 

gloves,  an  pair  of  hose,  an  pair  of  shous,.  four  ells  of  harn, 

from  Whitsunday  1690  to  91  is  to  be  mynded. 
Do.  from  1697  to  1698.— A.  doge  of  fea  and  ordinar  buntes,  £12  ;  And. 
HiU,  four  ells  gray,  two  pairs  shoues,  two  shirts,  and  money,  £1  10s.  On  3d 
April  1698  And.  Hill,  fead  to  Martinmas,  1699,  is  on  pair  old  britches  and 
ordinLr  buntes  and  money,  £1  10s;  Geo.  Porter,  a  pair  of  old  stockmgs,  and 
£1  6s  8d.    Hill  and  Porter  had  been  young  lads.    In  1701  Hill  had  ordinar 


286  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

buntes  and  fea  of  £Q  for  the  year.    The  money  mentioned  is  all  Scots.    Twelve 
pounds  Scots  was  only  equal  to  one  pound  sterling. 

August  30th,  1770. — This  day  I  began  my  harvest  at  Balmure  at  breakfast 
time,  feed  hooks,  five  men,  and  four  women.  October  5th,  1770. — This  day 
my  maden  was  taken,  and  there  is  1030  threves  of  oats  and  575  threves  bear  ; 
and  there  is  7  staks  of  bear,  and  15  staks  oats,  and  one  put  in  the  barn,  5  staks 
of  pese  and  two  of  white  wereof  one  thrashed  out,  and  there  was  30  threve  and 
1  stowk. 
The  wages  paid  the  five  men  were,  three  at  17s  6d  each,  and  two  at 

16s  8d  each,  in  all,         .  .  .  .  .  £4     5  10 

And  the  four  women,  13s  4d  each,  .  .  .  .        2  13    4 


£6  19  2 
The  7  staks  of  barley  were  infield,  and  the  oats  outfield.  He  then  describes 
the  position  of  the  different  descriptions  and  qualities  of  the  grain  in  the  barn- 
yard. "  The  southmost  of  the  second  row  is  my  changed  seed,  and  above  that 
is  the  other.  The  uppermost  of  the  second  row  is  the  corn  growing  in  Berrq 
bols  for  seed,  and  another  two  above  the  stak,  clover  hay,  so  that  I  have  in  all 
30  staks."  He  sold  of  crop  1770,  about  1840  stones  hay  to  various  parties  at 
4|d  per  stone,  the  total  amount  received  for  it  being  about  £35. 

The  laird  imported  his  grass  seeds  from  London,  per  George  Petelluo.     In 
1771  he  received — 

24  bushels  ry  grass,  at  3s  6d  per  bushel,        .  .  .  i£4    4     0 

100  red  clover  seed  cost,  .  .  .  .  .      2  18     0 

3  bags  and  one  sack  and  shipping,     .  .  .  .  0    7     9 

Commission  on  these  £7  9s  9d  at  2|  per  cent.,    .  .  .039 


£7  13     6 
Besides  freight  and  carriage  to  the  packhous,  which  are  not  given. 
Packhous  rent  and  cartage  out,  ....  1     7| 

The  first  notice  of  potatoes  we  have  seen  in  the  account  book  is  in  May, 
1771,  a  firlot  petato  to  the  oxnplew  men.  Is  8d. 

August  17  th,  1771. — Account  of  things  bought  for  Charles,  viz. : — 
Eight  pair  shows  from  Mr  Sped  at  3s  fid  per  pair,     . 
Twelve  pairs  stockings  from  Aberdeen  cost, 
A  dozen  shirts,  with  making  of  do.,   . 
Six  pairs  stokings  cost  wrking. 
Paid  for  a  cloth  clock  at  London,       .... 


£2 

4 

0 

2 

3 

8 

3 

0 

0 

0 

9 

0 

3 

17 

6 

£11 

14 

2 

Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMAKIINE.    287 

Inventories  of  stock,  viz.,  the  lands  of  Balmuir,  after  deducting  stipend,  and 
valuing  the  victual  at  6  per  boll  at  22  years'  purchase  : — 

Marks. 
Lands  of  Balmuir,  .....  29,860 

Lands  of  Meathie  at  22,        .  .  .  .  .      15,400 

On  Trade, 25,200 

Stocking, 9,000 

Lowr  by  two  bills  200,  ....  3,600 

Mr  Laird  and  Beat  by  bill,  ....        9,000 

Wedderburn  by  bond,  ....  5,400 

James  Arnot  by  bill  50 
Ac.  for  2  shares  of  the  Linen  Company's  strips  (1  stocks)  53,         1854 


21st  December,  1754,  .  .  .  Merks,     99,314  (Scots) 

or  £66,209  6s  8d    do. 
8th  July,  1765. — This  day  I  have  taken  an  inventor  of  my  stock,  viz. : — 
Powrie,  by  bond  at  Whitsunday,  1766,  with  a  year's  rent,  £600 

Lour,  by  bond  at  Whitsunday,  1766,  with  a  year's  rent,        .  600 

Laird  and  Edie,  by  bond  at  Martinmas,  1765,  with  a  year's 

rent, 500 

Chaple,  by  bond  at  Martinmas,  1765,  with  a  year's  rent,       .  200 

Mr  Laird  by  bills,  .  .  .  .  .  .236 

Do.,      for  barley,  .....  78 

Stocking  on  Powrie,        ......     500 

Do.      on  Balmuir,  .....  90 

Balmuir  valued  at  .  .  .  •  •  3,000 

Meathie  valued  at     .  .  .  .  "  •         1,200 


£7,004 
3  shares  of  the  Dundee  Bank,      ....  60 

£7,064  stg. 
These  accounts  of  stock  are  by  James  Graham  of  Balmuir  and  Meathie,  son 
of  Alexander  Graham  of  Balmuir  and  Meathie.     He  was  tenant  of  Powrie. 

We  have  shown  (Vol.  XL,  p.  2)  that  Sir  Eobert  Graham  of  Strathcarron 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  Grahams  of  JFintry  in  Angus,  and  of  Claverhouse.   He 


288  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

married  Janet,  daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Lovel  of  Ballumbie,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons,  Robert  Graham  of  Fintry,  and  John  ;  also  two  daughters,  married 
respectively  to  Erskine  of  Dun,  and  Halyburton  of  Pitcur.  On  27th  November, 
1456,  Robert  Graham  of  Old  Montrose  (No.  3  Graham  charters  in  Duntrune) 
had  charter  from  George,  Earl  of  Angus,  of  the  lands  of  Balargus,  with  the 
waulk  mill  in  the  parish.  Robert  Graham  appears  to  have  resigned  these 
lands  into  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Angus  for  new  infeftment  on  9th  May, 
1480,  and  on  10th  May,  1480,  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  granted  a  charter  of 
the  same  lands  to  John,  second  son  of  Robert  Graham  and  Matilda  Scrymgeour 
his  spouse ;  confirmed  18th  February,  1482,  under  the  Great  Seal. 

We  are  not  able  to  define  the  boundaries  of  Balargus.  It  lay  between  the 
lands  of  Claverhouse  and  Balmuir.  There  was  a  mill  and  a  moor  attached 
to  Balargus,  and  a  common  to  Claverhouse.  In  1508  some  proceedings  took 
place  between  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie,  and  John  Graham  of  Balargus, 
regarding  the  marclies  between  Balmuir  and  Balargus  Moor,  when  Powrie  re- 
nounced his  right  of  common  to  the  west  half  of  Balargus  Moor,  which  had 
adjoined  Balmuir.  In  1513  decreet  was  given  on  the  subject.  In  1485  John 
Graham,  and  his  father,  Robert,  received  from  David  Lichton,  Abbot  of 
Arbroath,  a  lease  of  the  teinds  of  Balargus  and  Finlarg  in  Tealing.  John  was 
called  young  Balargus,  and  from  him  the  Grahams  of  Claverhouse  and  Duntrune 
were  descended. 

John  Graham,  son  of  John  Graham  and  Matilda  Scrymgeour,  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  lands  of  Claverhouse,  Balargus  with  the  mill  and  moor,  and  the 
Myreton.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Beaton  of  Balfour.  Pre- 
cept of  clare  constat  by  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  for  infefting  him  in  these 
lands,  as  heir  of  his  father,  charter  of  same  dated  31st  July,  1511,  and  sasine 
on  7th  August,  1511.  On  31st  August,  1511,  John  Graham  had  a  gift 
from  the  King  of  an  annual  of  ten  merks  furth  of  the  lands  of  Kirkton,  to  be 
held  of  the  Earl.  In  Douglas,  Vol.  I.,  p.  468,  it  is  said  that  John  Graham 
acquired  the  lands  of  Claverhouse  about  March,  1530,  but  that  must  be  a 
wrong  date,  seeing  that  the  first  John  Graham  of  Balargus  owned  them  at  his 
death  in  1511,  and  the  family  afterwards  had  their  title  from  them.  In  1542 
John  Graham  had  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  Claverhouse  and  Balargus, 
mill  and  moor.  In  1552  William  Graham,  upon  precept  by  Archibald,  Earl 
of  Angus,  the  superior,  had  sasine  of  said  lands.  The  Fintry  branch  of  the 
Grahams  appear  to  have  had  some  interest  in  Claverhouse.  On  2d  July,  1566, 
David  Graham  of  Fintry  resigned  to  William  Graham  of  Claverhouse  all  right 


Chap.  XLI]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.-  MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE     289 

lie  had  to  lands,  steadings,  and  specially  to  the  lands  and  common  of  Claver- 
house. 

In  1572  charter  by  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  to  William  Graham  of 
Claverhouse,  heir  of  William,  his  father,  in  Claverhouse  and  Balargus,  mill 
and  moor.  In  1593  tack  of  the  lands  of  Claverhouse,  called  Easter  and 
Wester  Balargus,  granted  by  John,  Lord  Hamilton,  Commendator  of  the 
Abbey  of  Arbroath,  for  twenty  years,  at  ten  merks  yearly.  In  1614  a  disposi- 
tion was  given  by  James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  to  William  Graham  of 
Claverhouse,  of  the  lands  of  Claverhouse  and  Balargus.  In  1645  precept  by 
William  Graham  of  Claverhouse  to  require  the  Earl  of  Angus,  his  superior,  to 
receive  him  as  son  and  heir  of  George  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  his  father,  in 
the  lands  of  Balargus  and  Claverhouse,  mill  and  moor  of  Balargus. 

We  have  not  met  with  Balargus  after  1645. 

Balargus  and  Claverhouse  must  each  have  been  properties  of  considerable 
extent  in  early  times.  There  is  not  room  for  two  large  estates  between  the 
Dighty  and  the  ridge  which  rises  between  the  vales  of  the  Dighty  and  the 
Fithie,  and  we  think  that  Balargus,  with  the  moor  and  common,  must  have 
extended  to  the  north  of  said  ridge.  The  present  farm  of  Whitewalls  was 
formerly  a  muir.  These  lands  were,  and  still  are,  part  of  tlie  Balmuir  estate. 
The  lands  of  Powrie  and  Balmuir  touch  there.  The  adjoining  farm  of 
Emmock  was  formerly  a  moor  or  common,  and  was  only  reclaiiQed  in  the 
early  part  of  this  century.  The  Myreton,  which  also  belonged  to  the  Grahams 
of  Balargus,  adjoins  these  others,  which  goes  to  confirm  the  opinion  that  they 
were  part  of  Balargus.  Emmock  and  Myreton  are  part  of  the  Douglas  estate 
forfeited  on  the  death  of  Viscount  Dundee. 

We  have  gone  at  some  length  into  the  account  of  this  branch  of  the 
Grahams,  and  of  their  lands  of  Balargus  and  Claverhouse,  as  both  subjects  are 
conjoined,  and  we  wanted  to  give  what  details  were  available  about  Balargus, 
no  lands  of  the  name  in  the  parish  having  been  known  for  the  last  two  cen- 
turies. In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  the  lands  in  Mains  consisted  of  four 
estates,  named  thus— Fintry,  £900  ;  Kirkton,  £200  ;  Powrie,  £400 ;  Claver- 
house, £433  6s  8d.  Fintry  included  Mains,  Longhaugh,  and  Parkhead. 
Powrie  was  Balmuir,  called  Powrie  because  in  Scotch  fashion  the  lands  be- 
longed to  the  laird  of  Powrie  ;  and  Claverhouse  in  the  same  way. 

Fintry  was  divided  on  30th  April,  1789.    Longhaugh  was  acquired  by  John 
Pattullo,  yearly  value,  £133  6s  8d.      He  or  his  successor  sold  the  property  to 
Thomas  Anderson,  who  was  liferenter  of  a  farm  on  the  Panmure  estate,  and 
2o 


290  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

died  in  1841.  John  Pattullo's  mother,  who  was  liferented  in  Longhaiigh,  and 
had  an  annuity  out  of  the  property,  twitted  her  son  for  selling  it.  He  replied 
he  "  was  sorry  for  having  done  so,  but  would  never  do  it  again."  She  re- 
sponded, "  There  is  no  fear  of  that,  for  Thomas  Anderson  won't  let  you."  The 
estate  is  on  the  left  or  north  bank  of  the  Dighty,  below  Dundee  Bleachworks, 
and  now  belongs  to  Alexander  Anderson  of  Grange  of  Monifieth.  Parkhead, 
yearly  value  £47,  was  acquired  by  James  Guthrie.  It  has  passed  through  several 
hands,  and  now  belongs  to  Cargill  &  Co.,  the  proprietors  of  Dundee  Bleachworks. 

The  Mains,  the  remainder  of  Fintry,  was  of  the  yearly  value  of  £719  13s4d. 
Of  this  a  small  portion  to  the  west  of  the  old  Glamis  Road  was  sold  in  1806 
by  Erskine's  trustees,  who  had  acquired  the  Mains,  to  Sir  Walter  Ogilvy, 
yearly  value  i£147  3s  4d.  The  Mill  of  Mains  was  sold  by  the  trustees  to 
Graham  of  Ealmuir  at  same  time,  leaving  in  possession  of  the  trustees  the 
remaining  lands  of  Mains,  of  the  yearly  value  of  £572  10s,  which  now  belong 
to  James  E.  Erskine  of  Linlathen. 

Sir  "VV.  Graham  of  Claverhouse  was  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the  contract  of 
marriage  between  James,  Earl  of  ]\Iontrose,  and  Magdalene  Carnegie,  daughter 
of  David,  Lord  Carnegie,  10th  November,  1629  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  131).  William 
Graham  of  Claverhouse,  eldest  son  of  William  Graham  of  Claverhouse  and 
Marion  Fothringham,  married  Lady  Magdalen,  daughter  of  the  first  Earl  of 
Northesk,  contract  dated  7th,  15th,  and  24th  February,  1645.  George,  his  father, 
became  bound  to  infeft  William,  the  son,  in  contemplation  of  the  marriage, 
in  the  lands  of  Balkello,  Polkemback,  Poleack,  Tealing,  Balgray,  and  Sheilhill, 
in  the  parish  of  Tealing.  There  were  two  sons  of  the  marriage,  John  Graham 
of  Claverhouse,  Viscount  Dundee,  and  David  Graham  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  357). 

In  Vol.  II..  p.  19-21,  we  gave  a  short  account  of  the  career  of  John  Graham 
of  Claverhouse,  Viscount  Dundee,  who  fell  at  the  Battle  of  Killiecrankie, 
fighting  for  James  VII.,  on  27th  July,  1689.  His  opponent.  General  Mackay, 
commanded  the  army  of  William  III.  In  the  first  charge  Lord  Dundee  was 
shot  in  the  right  side  by  a"  musket  ball  and  soon  expired.  His  men  continued 
the  fight  and  routed  Mackay  with  great  loss,  one  half  of  his  troops  having  been 
slain,  but  the  death  of  the  brave  Dundee  was  the  death  blow  to  the  cause  of 
James,  and  William  got  peaceable  possession  of  the  British  Throne.  Lord 
Dundee  had  a  son  by  Jean,  daughter  of  William,  Lord  Cochrane,  son  and 
heir  of  the  Earl  of  Dundonald,  who  died  in  infancy.  David,  brother  of  Lord 
Dundee,  was  with  him  at  the  battle,  but  escaped  to  France,  and  was  honoured 
by  King  James,  but  he  died  unmarried  in  1700.    He  had  been  outlawed,  and 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE.    291 


the  estates  forfeited,  and  Claverhouse'was  given  by  King  William,  along  with 
Lord  Dundie's  other  estates,  in  1694,  to  James,  Marquis  of  Douglas,  and  they 
still  form  part  of  the  Douglas  estates  in  the  county,  the  Earl  of  Home  being 
the  present  proprietor. 

AEMS  OF  VISCOUNT  DUNDEE. 
Or,  three  Pyls  ■waved  sable  within  a  double  Treasure  counter-floivereu  gules,  on  a  chief  of 
the  second  ;  three  escalops  of  the  first. 

(The  three  Pyls  are  for  Lord  of  Balumby.) 

On  a  small  slip  of  paper  about  six  inches  long  by  four  broad  is  a  letter  from 
Viscount  Dundee  in  the  following  terms  : — 

Sir, — Thes  day  I  reeved  a  leter  of  yours  writ  the  Last  of  May.  I  admer  it 
was  so  Loing  of  coming  to  me  I  hop  the  men  hes  ben  with  you  to  recue  the 
oxen  what  mony  thay  ar  mor  Let  me  know  and  you  shall  have  it  for  gave  thes 
truball  from  sir  your  aSured  frind  and  Servant 

J.  DUNDIE. 
Juni  21  (?  24,  1689).     The  day  is  indistinct. 
Found  amongst  the  papers  of  Alexander  Graham  of  Balmuir,  Kincaldrum, 
and  Meathie.      On  25th  April,  1688,  Alexander  Graham  of  Balmuir  received 
from  Bailie  Graham,  4020  lib.  as  three  years'  rent  of  3000  and  500  merks, 
due  be  Claverous  preceding  Candlemas,  1688  years. 

Copy  of  account  of  corns  delivered  for  the  use  of  Claverhouse's  horses  from 
15th  August,  1685,  by  Alexander  Graham  of  Balmuir : — 

Impremus,  15  day  of  August,  four  bolls  of  ots,     .  .  4 

The  fors'^  day  on  boll  of  pies,  ...  1 

The  26  of  August,  three  bolls  of  oitts  is    .  .  .  3 

Ittem,  3  of  September,  three  bolls  oittes,        .  .  .3 

The  s**  day  on  boll  of  pies, 

Ittem,  14  of  September,  1685,  four  bolls  of  oittes, 

The  s*  day  on  boll  of  pies, 

Ittem,  24  of  September,  tuo  bolls  of  oittes,     . 

Ittem,  28  September,  four  bolls  of  oittes, 

The  fors*^  day  on  boll  of  pies, 

Ittem,  12  of  October,  five  bolls  of  oittes, 

Ittem,  26  of  October,  four  bolls  of  oites, 

Item,  2  of  Kov''-  on  boll  of  pies. 

Item,  10  Nov'''  five  bolls  of  oittes 

Ittem,  17  Nov'"'  on  boll  of  oits  in  grots  for  ye  ho  us  usse 


40 


292  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Mor  23  Nov'-  five  bolls  slid  oittes,  .  .  .5 

Mor  2  Dec'-'  four  bolls  oitts,  ....  4 

The  s"^  day  on  boll  of  new  pies,  .  .  .  .1 

So  that  the  fors"^^  for  going  accompt  doth  amount  to  oittes 

and  pies,  .  ....  50 

Bolls  whereof  sym  of  prices  is  2171ib.  13sh  4d. 

There  has  been  no  little  controversy  regarding  the  age  and  the  builder  of 
the  Castle  of  Mains,  which  has  long  been  a  picturesque  ruin  at  a  short 
distance  to  the  north  of  Dundee.  It  stands  near  the  south  bank  of  a  romantic 
though  small  dell  through  which  runs  the  Gelly,  a  tiny  burn.  On  the  north 
bank  of  the  ravine,  opposite  the  castle,  are  the  remains  of  the  old  church  of 
Mains  and  graveyard.  The  burn  was  at  one  time  called  Syvan.  A  copious 
spring  of  clear  water  issues  from  a  crevice  of  the  rock  below  the  castle,  which 
is  known  as  Sinnivie,  perhaps  a  corruption  of  St  Ninian,  the  patron  saint  of 
the  parish.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  castle,  and  on  the  south  bank  of  the  dell, 
are  a  number  of  old  trees,  including  several  large  walnut  trees.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  castle  in  former  times  stood  a  very  large  beech,  known  as  the  tree 
of  the  Mains,  but  the  wind  played  sad  havoc  with  the  noble  tree,  one  huge 
branch  after  another  having  been  blown  down,  and  now  it  is  all  gone. 

Whether  or  not  the  old  castle  of  the  Earls  of  Angus  had  been  built  on  the 
site  of  the  Castle  of  Mains  cannot  be  answered.  Probably  the  older  portion  of 
the  castle  had  been  built  by  Sir  David  Graham,  who  married  Margaret  Ogilvy, 
as  traces  of  the  initials  D.  G.  and  D.M,0,,  and  date  1566,  appear  upon  the 
outer  entrance  to  the  house  or  courtyard  arch.  A  slab  built  into  a  later 
portion  of  the  castle  has  the  following : — 

PATRIAE  .  ET  .  POSTERIS  .  GRATIS  .  ET  .  AMICIS  .  1582. 

The  Tower  or  Castle  of  the  Mains,  when  entire,  consisted  of  a  slender,  square 
tower,  from  50  to  60  feet  in  height,  adjoining  to  wliich  on  the  north  were  the 
family  apartments.  The  outer  wall  enclosed  a  court  of  considerable  area,  the 
entrance  to  which  and  to  the  castle  is  by  a  wide  arched  doorway  in  the  west 
wall.  On  the  wall  there  are  three  small  semi-circular  turrets,  one  being  at  the 
south-west  angle,  one  at  the  north-west,  and  one  above  the  gate  or  entrance. 
The  apartments  in  the  tower  were  reached  by  a  narrow  staircase. 

The  tower  was  entire  and  inhabited  by  the  Laird  of  Fintry  until  the  erection 


Chap.  XLI]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE.    293 

of  Linlathen  House,  about  ,  when  the  family  left  the  castle,  and  it  was 

allowed  to  fall  into  decay.  The  castle  has  been  sketched  and  painted  by  David 
Roberts,  and  by  several  other  painters.  The  castle  and  its  surroundings  are 
excellent  subjects  for  a  painting. 

About  twenty  years  ago  an  old  carved  stone  was  discovered  at  the  Castle  of 
Mains.  It  appears  to  be  a  coffin  slab,  and  to  have  belonged  to  the  Grahams 
of  Fintry.  It  is  ornamented  round  the  edges  with  fine  carved  work,  and  there 
is  a  floral  cross,  on  the  shaft  and  arms  of  which  are  the  words  "  Maria,  Jehesus, 
Maria,"  in  old  English  characters.  On  the  upper  part  of  the  shaft  there  is 
the  single  letter  "  M,"  perhaps  for  ''Maria."  The  arms  of  the  Grahams  of 
Fintry  are  displayed  on  a  shield  on  the  left  of  the  shaft,  and  on  the  right  is 
another  shield  with  the  Graham  and  Lovel  arms  impaled.  The  carving  upon 
the  stone  is  beautifully  executed,  and  in  fine  preservation. 

The  stone  had  probably  stood  before  the  altar  in  the  old  church  at  Mains, 
and  been  built  into  the  wall  of  the  castle  by  one  of  the  last  of  the  Grahams 
who  owned  the  property.  It  was  found  in  the  outer  wall  of  the  castle,  and 
about  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  now  preserved  in  the  aisle  of  the 
Grahams  in  the  old  churchyard. 

Robert  Graham,  the  father  of  John,  the  first  of  Balargus,  was  the  first 
Graham  of  Fintry.  His  eldest  son  Robert  succeeded  him  in  Fintry.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  George  Douglas,  Earl  of  Angus,  and  by  her  had 
a  son  and  successor,  who  was  knighted.  His  grandson,  Sir  David, 
married  Margaret  Ogilvy,  a  daughter  of  Airlie.  His  eldest  son  and  heir 
having  taken  part  with  the  Earls  of  Angus,  Huntly,  and  Errol,  about  1592, 
in  the  "  Popish  Plot,"  was  beheaded  at  Edinburgh  in  1592.  His  son,  who 
married  a  daughter  of  Halyburton  of  Pitcur,  became  a  Royalist.  He  probably 
built  the  square  tower  of  the  castle.  The  Graham  arms  are  on  a  skew-put 
stone,  with  the  date,  1650.  He  was  the  ninth  Graham  of  Fintry,  and  his 
descendant  is  the  representative  of  the  family,  but  none  of  the  name  of 
Graham  is  now  proprietor  of  lands  in  Angus.  The  last  Graham  of  Fintry 
sold  that  property,  now  again  called  Linlathen,  and  his  lands  in  the  parish  of 
Mains,  about  1804,  to  David  Erskine,  advocate,  Edinburgh. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  Dichty,  is  a  dovecot,  built  in  imitation  of  a  quasi- 
Gothic  ruined  castle,  near  to  the  ancient  village  of  Trottick,  and  to  the  reputed 
birthplace  of  the  celebrated  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  Viscount  Dundee, 
According  to  the  old  session  records  of  Mains,  there  were  branches  of  the 


294  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Grahams  designed  of  Fintry,  of  Claverhouse,  of  Kirkton,  and  of  Balmuir,  all 
in  the  parish  of  Mains, 

The  lands  of  Kirkton  of  Earls  Strathdichty  were  in  early  times  owned  by 
the  Earls  of  Angus,  as  also  were  the  other  lands  in  the  parish.  On  14th 
April,  1425,  Thomas  Clerk,  burgess  of  Dundee,  had  sasins  of  the  lands  of 
Kirkton  of  Strathdichty,  in  the  regality  of  Kirrymuir,  on  precept  by  William 
Douglas,  Earl  of  Angus.  Bond  by  the  Earl  of  Angus,  whereby  he  obliged 
himself  to  receive  James  Scrimzeur,  his  cousin,  to  be  his  tenant  in  the  said 
lands.  Dated  20th  January,  1444.  Assignation  by  the  said  Thomas  Clark 
to  John  Scrimzeur  of  Dudhope  of  the  foresaid  lands.  Dated  6th  March, 
1450  (His.  Man.  Com.,  5  Eep.,  612). 

John  Graham  of  Balargus  married  Margaret  Beaton  of  Balfour,  They  had 
charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  lands  of  Kirkton  of  Strathdichty  on  14th 
March,  1529-30. 

Besides  the  lands  of  Kirkton  of  Stathdighty,  there  were  also  lands  in  the 
parish  called  "  Little  Kirkton,"  and  others  called  "  Kirkton  of  Strathmartine  ;" 
and  as  the  lands  of  Kirkton  are  often  mentioned  without  description,  we  are 
unable  to  say  which  is  meant.  On  2d  March,  1541-2,  James  Scrymgeour, 
late  of  Kirkton,  Strathmartine,  is  mentioned.  John  Scrymgeour  of  same  is 
mentioned,  15th  November,  1587.  John  Scrymgeour  of  Kirktoune  was 
Member  of  Parliament  for  Dundee,  1702-4,  Little  Kirkton,  Mains,  was 
acquired  by  Scrymgeour,  a  merchant  in  Dundee,  in  1684  (Ochty). 

George  Palmer  acquired  the  lands  of  Kirkton.  On  30th  April,  1789,  the 
lands  of  Kirkton  were  divided,  and  he  sold  his  half  of  the  lands  to  Graham  of 
Fintry,  from  whom  they  passed  to  Thomas  Erskine  and  to  James  E.  Erskine. 
The  other  half  of  the  lands  belonged  to  Frederick  Gourlay,  and  Gershom 
Gourlay  succeeded  Frederick  in  the  possession.  He  was  proprietor  in  1822. 
The  lands  in  1683  and  also  in  1822  were  valued  at  £200,  each  half  being 
£100,  Robert  Haldane  acquired  the  Gourlay's  half  of  the  lands,  and  they 
now  belong  to  his  trustees.  A  considerable  part  of  the  lands  have  been  given 
off  in  feus  and  buildings  erected  upon  them. 

The  lands  of  Whitfield  originally  formed  part  of  the  estate  of  Drumgeith, 
but  they  were  given  off  in  the  first  decades  of  the  17th  century,  if  not  at  an 
earlier  period.  They  were  in  possession  of  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie 
early  in  that  century.      He  died  on  5th  December,  1654,  and  was  succeeded 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMARTINE.    295 

in  Whitfield,  in  the  parish  of  Mains,  by  his  brother,  John  Fothringham  of 
Powrie  (Ret.  340),  E  5m.  of  feu-duty.  He  had  not  possessed  the  property 
long,  as  on  6th  August,  1657,  his  nephew,  David  Fothringham  of  Powrie, 
heir  of  Thomas,  was  retoured  (No.  358),  in  the  lands  of  Whitfield,  within  the 
regality  of  Kirriemuir.  Feu-duty  as  above.  Under  the  name  of  Powrie, 
Balmuir  and  Whitfield  together  were  valued  in  the  1683  Eoll  at  £400.  They 
were  divided  before  1748,  when  Whitfield  was  entered  at  £lo3  6s  8d.  The 
lands  came  into  possession  of  John  Wilson,  and  he  was  laird  in  1822.  The 
estate  was  subsequently  acquired  by  Andrew  Keill,  who  was  succeeded  by 
George  Keill,  the  present  laird  of  Whitfield. 

At  the  battle  of  Arbroath,  fought  by  the  Ogilvys  and  the  Lindsays,  January, 
1446,  the  Ogilvys  wore  their  clan  tartan,  which  had  a  considerable  quantity  of 
green  in  it.  To  this  circumstance  they  attributed  their  defeat,  and  shortly 
thereafter  they  changed  their  tartan,  choosing  a  pattern  without  green,  which 
they  have  ever  since  worn. 

At  the  battle  of  Brechin,  fought  by  the  royal  forces,  under  the  Earl  of 
Huntly ;  and  the  Lindsays  and  Douglasses,  under  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  the 
Lindsays  were  mostly  attired  in  uniform  with  a  good  deal  of  green  in  it. 
The  Lindsays  ascribed  their  defeat  to  this  cause,  took  a  dislike  to  this  unlucky 
colour,  resolved  never  again  to  wear  it,  and  vowed  that  henceforth 

'  "  A  Lindsay  with  green 
Should  never  be  seen." 

The  new  Ogilvy  tartan  is  called  by  manufacturers  "the  Ogilvy,"  and  the 
discarded  pattern  "  the  old  Ogilvy." 

In  1790-1  the  Dighty  was  said  to  drive  more  machinery  for  its  size  than, 
perhaps,  any  stream  in  Britain,  Every  fall  upon  it  turned  a  mill,  so  that 
within  the  parish  of  Mains,  though  not  above  four  miles  in  length,  there 
were  no  fewer  than  33  mills  erected  for  different  purposes.  They  included 
a  flax-spinning  mill,  several  corn  mills,  barley  mills,  mills  for  washing  and 
cleaning  yarn,  nine  bleachfields,  three  of  which  were  carried  on  upon  a  large 
scale.     There  were  also  upon  the  Dighty  a  waulk  mill  and  a  snuff  mill. 

The  banks  of  the  Dighty  are  still  studded  with  works  of  various  descriptions, 
but  they  barely  number  half  as  many  within  the  parish  as  given  above.  They 
consist  of  about  five  bleachworks,  most  of  which  are  extensive  concerns,  about 
as  many  meal  or  flour  mils,  a  manure  work,  and  two  or  three  for  other 


296  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

purposes.  The  water  in  the  stream  has  to  do  service  in  moving  machinery 
before  it  enters  the  parish,  while  passing  through,  and  after  leaving  it. 

John  Grant,  Esq.,  the  proprietor  of  Craigmill,  on  the  Dighty,  has  recently 
acquired  as  much  land  adjoining  the  mill  as  forms  a  compact  small  estate,  on 
which  he  has  erected  a  good  dwellinghouse,  in  the  garden  attached  to  which  he 
has  placed  for  protection  the  sculptured  stone  above-mentioned,  and  described 
in  Vol  I.,  p.  32.  It  can  now  be  well  seen  by  those  who  feel  an  interest  in 
such  memorials  of  a  long  past  age. 

Tradition  ascribes  the  name  of  the  parish  to  the  legend  of  a  man  named 
Martin,  who  in  the  olden  time  performed  an  act  of  wondrous  bravery  in  the 
parish.  The  farmer  of  Pitempton  had  nine  daughters,  and  being  thirsty  one 
summer  evening  he  sent  one  of  his  daughters  to  a  neighbouring  well  fed  by  a 
living  spring  of  cool  water.  She  went,  but  not  returning  when  expected, 
another  daughter  was  sent  to  hasten  her  home-coming.  Neither  returned, 
and  a  third  was  sent  in  quest  of  the  others,  then  a  fourth,  and  so  on  until  all 
the  nine  sisters  had  gone.  At  last,  when  none  of  them  came  back,  the  farmer 
went  himself  to  see  what  delayed  them,  and  on  reaching  the  well  he  was 
horrified  to  see  the  mangled  remains  of  his  nine  daughters  around  the  spring, 
and  beside  them  an  enormous  dragon  or  serpent,  who  had  attacked  and  destroyed 
them  as  they  arrived  at  the  well.  He  fled  from  tlie  terrible  spectacle,  and 
alarmed  the  district.  A  large  assemblage  speedily  reached  the  spot,  armed  with 
such  weapons  as  came  most  readily  to  hand,  including  a  young  man  named 
Martin,  the  lover  of  one  of  the  maidens,  and  gave  chase  to  the  monster. 
Strong  and  agile,  and  thirsting  to  be  revenged  for  the  loss  of  his  beloved, 
Martin  soon  overtook  and  attacked  the  monster,  on  seeing  which  the  people 
encouraged  him  by  simultaneously  crying  out  "  Strike,  Martin  ;"  and  he  struck 
so  leally  that  he  wounded  the  serpent,  and  following  up  his  advantage  he  slew  the 
terrible  monster  before  it  got  much  beyond  two  miles  from  the  fatal  well.  The 
parish  is  still  locally  called  Strick-martine,  though  written  Strathmartine,  and 
this  is  the  commonly  received  origin  of  the  name,  In  support  of  the  tradition 
there  is  an  old  upright  stone  close  by  the  side  of  the  road  leading  to  the  Sidlaws 
at  Balkello  called  I\Iartin's  Stone,  upon  which  is  a  representation  of  the  reptile, 
locally  called  a  dragon.  Some  old  stone  monuents  in  the  neighbourhood  have 
serpents  and  other  figures  upon  them,  which  are  traditionally  believed  to  have 
some  reference  to  the  tragic  event,  and  the  farm  adjoining  the  well  is  called 
Baldragon. 

Referring  to  the  legend,  we  may  mention  that  the  churob  of  Strathmartine 


Chap.  XLL]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MAINS  &  STRATHMAETINE.    297 

was  dedicated  to  St  Martin,  which  may  have  given  the  name  to  the  parish. 
There  was  a  chapei  in  the  parish  of  Strathmartine  which  was  inscribed  to  the 
saints  known  as  the  Nine  Maidens.  The  site  of  the  chapel  is  unknown,  but 
it  may  have  stood  at  Fitempan,  as  the  Irish  words  Pit-teamp-an  signify  a 
small  church,  or  place  of  worship  situated  in  a  hollow.  Baldragon  may  be 
JBal-dreighan,  also  an  Irish  word  signifyini^  a  town  or  place  abounding  in 
blackthorn  or  sloe  bushes.  The  nine  maidens'  well  is  in  a  hollow  on  the  north 
side  of  the  railway,  about  50  yards  west  from  the  road  leading  down  to  West 
Mill  of  Baldovan,  which  passes  Pitempton. 

The  well  was  about  four  feet  square,  bound  round  with  rough  stones  to  the 
sandy  bottom,  through  which  four  strong  springs  bubbled  up.  The  water 
was  deliciously  cool,  of  crystal  purity,  and  pleasant  to  the  taste.  The  water  was 
carried  off  by  a  pipe  for  a  short  distance  to  the  east  to  an  open  well  at  the  side 
of  the  road  above-mentioned.  The  well  was  about  ten  years  ago  covered  by  a 
flagstone,  over  which  about  two  feet  of  soil  was  placed,  as  the  many  visitors  in 
their  way  to  and  from  the  well  trampled  down  the  crops  around  it. 

The  following  doggerel  shows  the  place  where  some  incidents  in  the  fight 
took  place  :— 

"  Tempted  at  Pitempton, 
Draigled  at  Baldragon, 
Stricken  at  Strathmartin, 
And  kill'd  at  Martin's  Stane." 

The  Glen  of  Ogilvie  has  also  its  tradition  of  nine  maidens,  and  these  are 
not  the  only  places  celebrated  for  a  "  nine  maidens'  well." 

On  the  south  side  of  the  Dighty,  in  the  western  part  of  the  parish,  is  Clatto  Moor, 
an  elevated  plateau,  which  is  quite  four  hundred  feet  above  that  stream.  Here, 
tradition  says,  a  portion  of  Agricola's  army  encamped  for  a  short  time  during 
the  Roman  invasion  of  the  country.  Here,  also.  Sir  William  Wallace  and  his 
army  lay  encamped  previous  to  the  siege  of  Dundee  ;  and,  it  is  said,  the  meal 
for  his  brave  Scots  was  ground  at  the  Mill  of  Fallaws,  a  short  distance  north 
from  the  moor.  A  portion  of  the  west  side  of  the  moor  is  popularly  called 
"  Wallace  Trenches,"  but  the  name  of  the  elevated  ground  is  Tothil  Hill. 
An  old  rhyme  says : — 

*'  Wallace  encamped  on  Tothil  Hill, 
And  ground  his  com  at  Falla  Mill." 

2p 


298  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Tlie  old  Statistical  Account  gives  the  lines  thus  : — 

"  Wallace  pitch'd  his  camp  on  Clatto-hill, 
And  ground  his  com  at  Philaw's  Mill." 

The  same  ground  was  occupied  by  General  Monk  before  his  capture  of 
Dundee  in  1651,  and  it  was  from  his  camp  here  that  the  G-eneral  sent  the 
detachment  of  his  army  to  Alyth,  which  surprised  and  captured  a  number  of 
the  nobility,  gentry,  and  clergy  who  were  holding  a  meeting  there  at  the  time. 
Among  the  prisoners  were  James  Sharp,  subsequently  Archbishop  of  St 
Andrews,  Mr  Andrew  Auchinleck,  parson,  and  Mr  John  Robertson,  vicar  of 
Dundee.  A  portion  of  Clatto  Moor  was  recently  acquired  by  the  Dundee 
Water  Commissioners,  and  they  have  formed  it  into  a  reservoir  for  storing  as 
much  of  the  water  from  Lintrathen  as  will  supply  the  town  for  a  few  days,  in 
the  event  of  a  burst  or  other  casualty  interrupting  the  regular  flow.  Parts  of 
the  moor  to  the  west  of  the  reservoir  still  show  the  appearances  of  trenches  or 
other  defences.  On  the  north  side  of  the  hill  a  quarry  was  opened  some  years 
ago.  The  rock  is  basaltic  and  columnar,  the  columns  standing  side  by  side, 
but  each  distinct  from  the  others  which  suround  it.  The  rock  was  found  to 
be  verv  friable  when  exposed  to  the  air,  and  quarrying  was  discontinued. 

The  Rev.  David  Maxwell,  minister  and  laird  of  the  parish  of  Strathmartine, 
mentioned  above,  married  a  daughter  of  Duncan  of  Lundie.  His  daughter 
and  heiress,  Isabella,  was  married  to  James  Morrison,  fourth  of  Naughton,  in 
the  parish  of  Balmerino,  in  Fife.  With  her  he  had  the  estate  of  Strathmartine 
after  the  death  of  her  father  in  1774. 

A  large  amorphous  stone  has  from  time  immemorial  stood  on  an  elevated 
field  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Dighty,  on  the  Balmuir  estate.  It  is  locally 
called  Hare  Stane,  and  it  has  given  its  name  to  the  farm  on  which  it  stands, 
and  to  the  adjoining  bleachfield.  The  origin  of  this  name  we  do  not  know, 
but  its  grayish  appearance  may  have  made  it  be  called  Jioar  stone,  which  the 
local  doric  changed  into  Hare  Sfane.  We  have  never  heard  any  legend  about 
the  stone,  but  it  had  been  raised  to  commemorate  some  important  event. 
(Bound  Stones  ;  Stones  of  Memorial ;  Landmarks  in  the  Bible.) 

The  Industrial  School  for  boys  was  removed  from  the  Ward  Road,  Dundee, 
to  a  new  building  which  had  been  erected  for  the  purpose  on  a  field  a  little  to 
the  north  of  Baldovan  Station,  on  the  Dundee  and  Newtyle  Railway.  It  is 
an  extensive  structure,  with  a  handsome  front  to  the  south,  in  which  are  the 
Board  Room,  with  other  necessary  office  accommodation,  and  a  residence  for 
the  superintendent.    Behind  this  range  is  a  large  quadrangle  for  playground 


Chap.  XLI.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MAINS  &  STEATHMARTINE.   299 

for  the  boys,  around  which,  on  the  ground  floor,  are  ranged  large,  airy  rooms 
occupied  as  workshops,  in  which  the  boys  are  instructed  in  the  trade  each 
desires  to  follow.  Over  these  are  the  dormitories  for  the  boys  and  the  officials. 
There  is  a  neat  lodge  at  the  entrance  to  the  grounds,  which  in  front  are  orna- 
mental and  pretty.  Around  the  other  sides  of  the  building  are  some  acres  of 
land  occupied  as  kitchen  garden.  The  manual  labour  required  for  the  land  is 
supplied  mainly  by  the  boys  who  wish  to  follow  an  agricultural  life.  The 
building  is  licensed  for  200  boys,  and  when  we  visited  it  there  was  nearly  the 
full  complement  in  the  Institution.  Everything  in  and  about  the  building 
was  clean  and  in  good  order,  and  the  Institution  appears  to  be  admirably  con- 
ducted by  the  superintendent  and  other  officials,  and  it  does  great  credit  to 
the  Industrial  School  Scociety. 


In  the  old  Statistical  Account  there  is  a  comparative  statement  of  the  parish 
in  1760  and  1790,  which  is  interesting,  as  showing  the  great  progress  of 
manners  which  had  been  made  in  30  years.  The  following  abstract  gives 
some  of  the  details  : — 


1760. 

Land  rented  at  6s  per  acre. 

Only  two  small  farms  enclosed. 

No  grass  nor  turnips  sown,  nor  potatoes  or 
kail  planted  on  fields,  and  only  half  an 
acre  of  wheat  sown  by  the  minister. 

Land  ploughed  with  oxen.  Horses  only 
kept  for  harrowing  and  harvest.  £7  was 
thought  a  high  price  for  a  horse. 

Ploughman  £3,  maid  servants  £1 10s  a-year. 

Labourers  6d,  tailors  3d,  wrights  6d,  and 

masons  lOd  a-day. 
No  English  cloth  worn  but  by  the  minister, 

and  a  quaker. 
Men's  stockings  made  of  plaiding.     Women 

wore  coarse  plaids.      No  cloak  or  bonnet 

worn  in  the  parish  by  any  woman. 

Only  two  hats  in  the  parish,  men  wore  cloth 

bonnets. 
One  eight-day  clock,  six  watches,  and  one 

teakettle  in  the  parish. 


1790. 

Land  rented  at  30s  per  acre. 

Land  all  enclosed. 

Three-fifths    of    the   ground  under   grass, 

turnips,  potatoes,  and  kail,  and  about  100 

acres  wheat  sown. 
No  oxen  employed.    Farmers'  saddle  horses 

worth  £24  to  £30,  and  work  horses  £20 

to  £25  each. 
Plouglimen  £8  to  £10,  maid  servants  £4  a- 

year. 
Labourers  Is,  tailors  Is,  wrights  Is  2d,  and 

masons  2s  a-day. 
English  cloth  in  common  use,  and  cotton 

vests  common  use. 
Cotton  and  thread  stockings  worn  by  both 

sexes.     Some  have  silk  ones.     Women's 

plaids  fine,  and  faced  with    silk.      Silk 

plaids,  cloaks,  &c.,  numerous. 
Few    bonnets    worn.       The    bonnetmaker 

trade  in  the  parish  given  up. 
30  clocks,  above  100  watches,  and  at  least 

160  teakettles  in  the  parish. 


300  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIT. 

The  people  never  visit  each  other  but  at  Visit  each  other  often.      Dinner  parties  of 

Christmas.       Entertainment,   broth  and  neighbours.    6  or  7  dishes  on  table.    Rum 

beef.     Ale  obtained  from  the  village  ale-  punch  after  it,  then  tea,  then  supper,  and 

house.     Merry  over  it  without  ceremony.  what  was  called  the  grace  drink. 

Beef  and   mutton  2d  per  lb.,  butter  5d,  Beef  and  mutton  4d,  butter  lOd  per  lb. 

cheese  2s  6d  per  stone,  eggs  l^d  per  doz.  cheese  5s  4d  per  stone,  eggs  6d  per  doz. 

One  bleaclifield,  which  employed  10  persons.  Nine  bleachfields,  which  employ  about  100 

pei'sons. 

Children  at  school  had  a   piece   of  pease  Children  have  wheaten  bread,  milk,  butter, 

bread  with  them  for  dinner.  cheese,  eggs,  &c.,  with  them  for  dinner. 

Every  person  in  the  parish  in  health  attended  Much  lukewarmness  with  regard  to  religious 

Divine   service   on    Sunday,    wliich    was  instruction,  and  indifference  as  to  worship 

regularly  and  religiously  observed.     There  and    ordinances.       Sunday  ill-observed, 

were  only  four  seceders  in  the  parish.  Seceders  have  increased  tenfold. 

Few  were  guilty  of  any  breach  of  the  third  The  third  commandment  seems  to  be  almost 

commandment.      The  name  of  God  was  forgotten,  and  profane  swearing  abounds 

reverenced  and  held  sacred.  greatly. 

Chap.  XLII.— MAEYTON. 

In  the  Roll  of  1683  the  lands  of  Mary  ton  were  divided  into  four  estates, 
called  Earl  of  Middleton,  £1433  6s  8d ;  Bonnyton,  £466  13s  4d  ;  Provost 
Gouts,  £466  13s  4d  ;  Over  and  Nether  Dysart,  £633  6s  8d— in  all  £3000. 
The  first  of  these  was  subsequently  called  Old  Montrose,  the  second  and  third 
Bonnyton.  Tliese  all  belong  to  the  Earl  of  Southesk.  The  fourth,  Dysart, 
was  on  23d  April,  1808,  divided  into  two  parts,  Over  or  Little  Dysart,  &c., 
£418  19s  lOd  ;  and  Meikle  or  Nether  Dysart,  &c.,  £214  6s  10d  =  £633  6s  8d. 
They  now  belong  to  the  same  proprietors  as  Craigo  (Supra,  p.  239) . 

The  Church  of  Maryton  (Marinton)  was  a  vicarage  of  the  Cathedral  of 
Brechin.  The  patronage  and  tithes  of  St  Mary's  of  Old  Montrose,  with  its 
lands,  were  gifted  by  King  William  the  Lion  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  after  he 
had  founded  it.  lu  a  confirmation  by  him  dated  at  Selkirk  25th  May,  the  year 
not  given,  but  between  1211  and  1214,  of  various  lands  and  churches  given  to 
that  monastery  as  a  free  and  perpetual  alms,  this  kirk,  with  the  lands  thereof, 
which  in  Scotch  is  called  Abthen,  by  its  right  divisions,  and  with  its  plenary 
tithes  and  all  its  just  pertinents,  are  included.  This  church  is  similarly  in- 
cluded in  a  confirmation  of  the  preceding  charter,  granted  by  King  Alexander 
IL,  dated  17th  February,  the  year  not  given,  but  probably  between  1214  and 
1218. 

A  charter,  without  date,  but  between  1178  and  1198,  was  made  by  Turpin, 


Chap.  XLII]  Als'GUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAEYTON.  301 

Bishop  of  Brechiu,  confirmiug  to  the  Monastery  of  Arbroath  the  Church 
of  Munros,  and  other  churches,  with  their  chapels,  lands,  tithes,  oblations, 
and  all  their  just  pertinents,  and  granting  to  the  monks  of  the  said  monastery 
for  their  own  use  and  for  their  sustentation  all  the  rents  and  profits  of  these 
churches,  and  to  appoint  in  the  same  churches  such  chaplains  as  they  pleased. 
Similar  confirmations  were  made  to  the  monastery  of  the  Church  of  Old 
Montrose  and  others  by  subsequent  Bishops  of  Brechin,  viz.— Rudolph,  be- 
tween 1211  and  1218  ;  Hugh,  about  1218  ;  and  Gregory,  between  1218  and 
1222.     Confirmations  were  also  granted  by  Pope  Lucius  III.  about  1182,  and 
by  Pope  Innocent  III.  on  21st  April,  1200,  to  the  Monastery  of  Arbroath,  of 
did  Montrose  and  various  other  churches,  with  lands,  tithes,  and  pertinents. 
It  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Maiy.     King  ^Villiam  granted  the  Abbey  lands 
of  Old  Montrose,  in  liferent,  to  Hugh  of  Roxburgh,  Chancellor,  to  be  held  of 
the  Abbots  of  Arbroath  on  the  payment  of  three  stones  of  wax  yearly. 

In  1574  Richard  Melvil,  eldest  brother  of  Andrew  Melville  the  reformer, 
was  minister  of  Inchbrayock,  St  Skae,  Maryton,  and  Lunan,  and  had  a  stipend 
of  £100  Scots.  John  Melvill,  another  brother,  was  reader  at  Inchbrayock  and 
Maryton,  with  a  salary  of  £20  Scots  and  kirk  lands.  The  present  Church  of 
Maryton  was  built  in  1791,  and  St  Mary's  Well  is  in  its  immediate  vicinity. 

There  was  once  a  Church  of  Dysart,  but  its  site  is  now  unknown.  ^  The 
Church  of  Dysart  is  mentioned  in  a  charter  by  King  Malcolm  IV.  (the  maiden), 
between  1159  and  1163,  and  it  then  belonged  to  the  Priory  of  Resteneth,  and 
also  its  teinds  and  the  lands  of  Little  Dysart.  On  the  abolition  of  Papacy  the 
teinds  of  Over  and  Nether  Dysart  were  given  by  the  King  to  assist  in  eclucatmg 
poor  deserving  youths  who  chose  the  Church  as  a  profession.  Until  about  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  Over  and  Nether  Dysart  were  annexed 
to  the  Kirk  of  Maryton,  the  inhabitants  of  Dysart,  though  about  eight  miles 
distant,  were  bound  to  communicate  at  the  Kirk  of  Brechin,  which  was  their 
parish  church.  The  lands  of  Dysart  were  held  under  the  superiority  of,  and 
belonged  to,  the  Cathedral  of  Brechin,  which  may  be  the  reason  why  the 
people  were  required  to  communicate  at  Brechin.  After  Over  and  Nether 
Dysart  were  annexed  to  Maryton  the  parishioners  worshipped  and  communicated 
in  the  church  there,  but  the  lands  of  Dysart  are  an  outlying  part  of  the  parish, 
and  at  a  distance  of  between  two  and  three  miles  from  the  parish  church. 

The  Church  of  Maritun  is  rated  in  the  Old  Taxation,  made  in  127o,  at  20 
merks  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  241).  Dysart  is  not  rated  in  it,  and  it  is  not  known 
to  what  saint  it  was  dedicated.     The  parish,  which  probably  obtamed  its  name 


302  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.       '  [Part  XIV. 

in  honour  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  is  about  three  miles  in  length  from  north  to 
south,  and  half  as  much  in  width  from  east  to  west ;  but,  as  the  parish  consists 
of  one  large  district  and  two  or  three  detached  portions,  the  length  and  breadth 
given  is  only  an  approximation.  It  is  bounded  by  the  South  Esk,  parish  of 
Dun,  and  Basin  of  Montrose  on  the  north,  the  parish  of  Craig  on  the  east, 
the  ocean  and  parish  of  Lunan  on  the  south,  and  the  parish  of  Farnell  on  the 
west.  The  parish  contains  3686*905  acres,  of  which  40*974  are  water,  84*334 
foreshore. 

The  AhtJien  lands,  gifted  with  the  church  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  con- 
sisted of  the  lands  of  Over  and  Nether  Maryton.  Abthen  was  land  the 
property  of,  or  connected  with,  an  abbot  or  abbacy,  perhaps  of  a  Columbite  or 
Culdee  house ;  but  whether  any  other  quality  or  condition  enters  into  its 
meaning  we  are  without  materials  to  say  with  certainty.  There  is  little  doubt 
that  these  lauds  had,  at  some  period  prior  to  the  King's  gift  of  them  to  the 
Abbey,  belonged  to  a  religious  community. 

The  Parish  Church  is  a  very  chaste  but  comparatively  plain  structure 
with  two  large  pointed  windows  and  two  smaller  rectangular  ones  in  the  front, 
which  faces  the  south,  with  a  very  neat  belfry  on  the  west  end  of  the  building. 
The  walls  are  well  covered  with  ivy,  which  gives  the  church  a  very  pleasing 
appearance.  The  church  is  to  some  extent  surrounded  by  the  graveyard, 
which  is  kept  in  a  tidy  state,  and  well-grown  trees  surround  the  whole.  The 
manse  and  manse  garden  are  a  little  to  the  east  of  the  church,  and  both  church 
and  manse  are  on  the  north  side  of,  but  near  to,  the  highway  from  Forfar  to 
Montrose. 

The  present  church  replaced  an  older  one  erected,  or  supposed  to  have  been 
built,  in  1642,  as  the  present  bell,  which  was  upon  it,  has  this  inscription 
"  MiCHALL  BuRGERHHYUS  .  M.F.  164*2  .  SoH  Dco  Gloria."  There  were 
galleries  at  the  east  and  west  ends  of  the  church,  and  an  aisle  at  the  back, 
which  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  burying  place  of  the  family  of  the  Woods 
of  Bouuington.  No  pews  were  provided  for  the  church,  it  not  having  been  the 
practice  to  fit  up  pews  in  the  body  of  churches  prior  to  this  period,  and  in 
some  districts  until  a  much  later  time. 

In  those  times  it  was  the  custom  for  parishioners  who  desired  to  sit  during 
the  service  to  bring  their  seats  with  them.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  stand  long  on 
one  spot,  hustled  by  a  surrounding  company  of  people,  even  in  a  church,  and 
gradually  pew  after  pew  was  erected  by  the  lairds,  farmers,  and  others,  with 
the  permission  of  the  Kirk  Session,  at  the  expense  of  the  erectors,  who  paid 


Chap.  XLII.]         ANGUS  IN"  PAEISHES.— MARYTON.  303 

an  annual  rent  to  the  Session.  Humbler  parties  took  stools  and  left  them  in 
church,  using  them  when  present.  These  were  sometimes  misplaced,  and  the 
spot  appropriated  by  another,  which  was  the  cause  of  constant  disputes. 

To  prevent  bickerings,  the  beadle  was  instructed  by  the  Session,  so  late  as 
1727,  to  place  the  stools  belonging  to  the  women  in  such  places  of  the  church 
as  they  judged  most  proper,  and  afterwards  no  one  was  permitted  to  alter  the 
position  of  any  of  them  without  the  consent  of  the  Session.  All  modern 
churches  in  Scotland  are  provided  with  seats  by  the  proprietors  of  the  buildings. 

The  seatless  church  is  a  relic  of  Romish  times,  and  many  large  churches  in 
Popish  countries  are  still  without  seats.  Many  of  the  worshippers  in  them 
take  hassocks,  or  small  squares  of  carpet  with  them  on  which  to  kneel.  The 
luxurious  fittings  of  church  pews,  now  so  common  in  urban  districts  in  Scot- 
land, are  a  modern  innovation.  We  have  had  considerable  experience  in  letting 
church  seats,  and  know  that  even  in  present  times  it  is  difUcult  to  please  every 
applicant  for  sittings. 

A  very  handsome  Free  Church,  with  manse  and  other  buildings,  was  erected 
on  a  prominent  position  in  the  vicinity  of  Old  Montrose.  This  church  is 
adorned  with  a  neat  spire,  which  is  seen  from  a  considerable  distance.  The 
surrounding  scenery  is  beautiful,  and  the  church  and  spire  form  a  pleasing 
feature  in  the  landscape. 

Mary  ton  Law  is  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  the  church,  but  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  about  300  feet  above  it.  The  Law  is  supposed  to  be  artificial,  and 
raised  upon  a  rock.  It  is  said  to  bear  signs  of  having  been  vitrified,  but  we 
did  not  observe  them.  The  Law  commanded  a  fine  prospect  of  part  of  Strath- 
more,  of  Montrose,  of  part  of  the  Mearns,  and  the  front  ranges  of  the 
Grampians.  Some  time  ago  trees  were  planted  around  the  base  and  sides  of 
the  Law,  and  these  have  grown  so  high  and  so  close  that  little  is  now  seen 
from  it. 

A  ridge  of  low  hills  runs  through  tlie  parish  from  east  to  west,  from  the 
summit  of  which  the  land  slopes  to  the  north  and  to  the  south.  The  greater 
part  of  the  northern  section  is  comparatively  level,  and  of  no  great  height  above 
high-water  mark  in  the  Basin.  In  this  district  there  are  some  portions  of 
more  elevated  ground,  but  in  none  is  the  rise  great,  and  the  highest  point  can- 
not be  called  a  hill.  Included  in  this  division  are  the  lands  of  Old  Montrose, 
Powis,  Fullerton,  Maryton,  Bonnyton,  &c.,  which  form  an  important  portion 
of  the  Southesk  estate. 

The  southern  section  includes  the  lands  of  Nether  and  Upper  Dysart,  &c., 


304  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Paet  XIV. 

which  form  the  Djsart  estate,  a  small  portion  of  which  is  now  attached  to  the 
Dunninald  property.  This  section  slopes  with  a  gradual  inclination  to  the 
south.  An  outstretched  arm  of  the  parish  of  Craig  half  a  mile  in  width,  juts 
in  between  the  northern  and  southern  divisions  of  the  parish,  and  completely 
separates  them. 

The  soil  of  the  parish  varies  materially  in  the  several  districts.  In  some 
parts  it  is  strong  deep  clay,  in  others  fine  rich  loam,  while  in  others  it  is  of  a 
more  sandy  or  gravelly  nature.  The  Carse  land  is  well  adapted  for  wheat  and 
other  grain  crops,  and  all  descriptions  of  crop  are  at  home  in  the  loamy  lands, 
the  produce  being  abundant  and  the  quality  excellent. 

The  lands  of  Dysart  are  of  a  lighter  description  than  those  to  the  north  of 
the  ridge,  but  they  are  on  the  sunny  side  of  the  high  zone,  and  are  far  from 
deficient  in  crop-bearing  qualities.  The  entire  parish  of  Maryton  is  farmed 
by  an  intelligent  body  of  agriculturists,  who  cultivate  their  lands  with  much 
care,  and  in  oixlinary  seasons  the  grateful  soil  yields  them  good  crops  in  return. 
Farmers,  like  men  in  trades  or  professions,  are  spurred  on  to  industry  by 
necessity.  The  industrious  and  skilful  farmer  incites  the  ground  to  return  an 
abundant  increase  for  the  seed  sown. 

King  William  the  Lion  paid  two  visits  to  the  northern  parts  of  Scotlaad, 
and  each  of  them  was  to  quell  a  rebellion  there.  In  1178  he  led  an  expedition 
against  a  Mac  William  ;  and,  in  1197,  he  went  with  another  army  against  an 
Earl  of  Caithness.  Both  these  persons  were  usurpers,  and  wanted  to  rule  the 
kingdom.  The  King  was  successful  on  both  his  journeys,  and  in  the  latter  he 
brought  the  Earl  back  with  him  as  a  prisoner,  and  confined  him  in  Roxburgh 
Castle. 

The  King  in  his  journey ings  on  these  expeditions  had  probably  rested  with 
his  troops  at  Montrose,  where  there  was  a  royal  castle,  as  he  dated  charters  at 
it  between  1178  and  1198.  The  gatekeeper  of  the  castle  was  a  man  named 
Crane,  for  which  he  had  the  heritable  fee  of  the  lands  of  Iny-aney,  situated  on 
the  south  side  of  the  South  Esk,  in  what  is  now  the  parish  of  Maryton.  His 
son  Swayne,  and  grandson  Simon,  successively  succeeded,  and  on  the  death  of 
the  latter  without  male  issue,  his  five  daughters  made  a  joint  claim  to  these 
lands.  Their  right  was  questioned,  but  an  inquest  was  instituted  in  1261-2, 
and  an  assize,  consisting  of  eighteen  of  the  chief  barons  of  the  county,  gave 
decision  in  favour  of  the  five  co-heiresses.  The  barons  were  Munros,  Rossyn, 
Fithyn,  Kynel,  Inverkilerd,  Inverlunan,  Kinbladmund,  Lexyn,  Dun,  Brechyn, 


Chap.  XLII]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAEYTON.  305 

Kinabir,  Parva,  Pert,  Melgiind,  Pannemor,  Pannebride,  Tunryn,  et  Rescolbyn. 
The  most  of  these  lands  can  be  distinguished  by  their  present  names. 

The  next  person  whose  name  we  have  found  in  connection  with  these  hinds 
is  AugustinC;  son  of  Cristiane,  who  resigned  them  at  Dunbarton,  17th  March, 
1326.  King  Robert  I.  granted  to  Henry  of  Rossie  a  charter  of  the  lands  of 
Inyoney,  with  pertinents  in  the  shire  of  Forfar.  It  was  granted  at  Berwick- 
upon-Tweed,  23d  May,  1328.  It  is  witnessed  by  Bernard,  Abbot  of  Arbroath, 
Chancellor  ;  Thomas  Randolph,  Earl  of  Moray ;  James,  Lord  Douglas ;  Robert 
of  Keith,  Marischall  of  Scotland ;  David  of  Lindsay,  Alex,  de  Setoun,  and  Sir 
David  of  Barclay  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  338  ;  and  In.  to  Ch,  18-84), 

Walter  Schaklok  appears  to  have  acquired  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of 
Inieney,  probably  from  The  Bruce,  However  obtained,  he,  in  1328,  granted  a 
charter  of  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Inieney  to  Henry  of  Rossie.  The 
charter  is  witnessed  by  several  churchmen,  including  John  de  Cadiou,  rector 
of  the  church  of  the  Island  of  St  Braoch  ;  Patrick  of  Ogilvill,  William  Gourlay, 
Henry  of  Fethy,  Galfride  of  Fullerton,  &c.  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  339.)  That 
charter  was  confirmed  by  King  Robert  I.  at  Arbroath,  21st  September,  1328. 

Robert  III.  granted  a  charter  to  Bernard  Rossie,  of  the  baronie  of  Rossie, 
of  the  lands  of  Inene,  between  the  years  1398  and  1406  (In.  to  Ch.,  141-55). 
These  lands  lay  between  Fullerton  and  Bonnyton.  Robert  Crawraont  acquired 
the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Fullerton,  Ananie,  Little  Carcary,  and  Kinnaird, 
and  the  sixth  part  of  half  a  merl.:  of  the  annual  rent  of  Balnamon,  in  the  first 
half  of  the  fifteenth  century.  James  Crawmont,  as  one  of  the  nearest  and  lawful 
heirs  of  the  deceased  Robert,  was,  on  16th  May,  1447,  infeft  in  these  properties 
in  virtue  of  a  precept  of  the  Sheriff"  of  Forfar.  Before  1530  the  third  part  ot 
these  lands  had  come  into  possession  of  the  Durhams  of  Ardestie,  as  this 
portion  was  in  that  year  sold  by  Durham  to  the  Woods  of  Bonnyton.  The 
name  of  the  lands  was  kept  up  until  towards  the  end  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  Until  a  recent  date  the  Den  of  Fullerton  was  called  by  the  name  of 
Ananie,  but  for  many  years  the  name  has  not  been  given  to  any  lands  in  the 
parish,  and  it  is  now  extinct. 

On  8th  February,  1617,  Archibald  Wood  of  Craig,  heir  of  Sir  David  Wood, 
knight,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  97)  in  the  lands  and  town  of  Annanie 
(A.E.  20s.,  N.E.  £4),  also  in  several  lands  in  the  parish  of  Craig  (E.  £31 
10s  8d  feudifirmse). 

The  Fullertons  were  proprietors  of  the  third  part  of  Ananie,  which  they  sold 
to  the  Grahams  of  Old  Montrose,  and  the  Lady  Magdalene  Carnegie  was  life- 
2q 


306  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

rented  in  them,  in  Maryton,  Old  Montrose,  &c.,  in  terms  of  her  marriage  con- 
tract with  the  Earl  of  Montrose,  dated  10th  November,  1629. 

The  Rev.  "William  R.  Fraser,  minister  of  Maryton,  in  his  interesting  account 
of  the  landed  proprietors  of  the  parish  from  the  twelfth  century,  says  Patrick 
of  Inverpeffer  and  his  wife  Margaret  Fassington  were  proprietors  of  Bonnyton 
about  1330.  There  are  lands  of  that  name  in  several  parishes.  In  the  In.  to 
Ch.,58-7,  Patrick  and  Margaret  received  from  Margaret  of  Abernethy,  Countess 
of  Angus,  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Bondington  and  Newton,  and  in  same, 
87-225,  David  II.  confirms  same  in  1369,  but  these  appear  to  have  been  lands 
in  Inverarity  parish. 

The  first  proprietor  of  Bonnyton  in  this  parish  with  whose  name  we  have 
met  is  William  de  Capella,  who  received  from  Robert  I.  a  charter  of  the  dis- 
charge of  40s  sterling  of  his  land  in  Bondington  (In.  to  Ch.  18-64).  On  13th 
March,  1377,  Robert  II.  granted  a  charter  to  Waller  de  Tulach  of  the  lands 
of  Bondingtoun,  which  John  de  Capella  resigned  (In.  to  Ch.,  118-15).  This 
John  was  keeper  of  the  King's  Chapel.  King  Robert  I.  appointed  this  family 
keepers  of  the  royal  hunting  forest  of  Montreathmont  (Vol.  I.,  p.  167),  and  on 
11th  November,  1399,  Robert  III.  granted  to  John,  son  of  William  Tulloch, 
a  charter  of  the  oflSce  of  keeper  of  that  forest,  with  many  privileges  as  therein, 
enumerated. 

The  Tullochs  held  Bonnyton  on  the  tenure  of  supplying  fresh  fish  daily  to 
the  Royal  table  at  Forfar  when  the  King  or  the  Court  were  there.  The  fish  were 
takeQ  from  the  old,  and  in  early  times  famous,  fishing  station  of  Usan,  past 
Bonnyton,  through  the  forest  of  Montreathmont  by  what  was  known  a;  the 
King's  Cadger's  Road,  and  onward  to  Forfar. 

This  family  was  probably  cadets  of,  or  connected  with,  the  Tullochs  of  that 
ilk,  in  the  parish  of  Dunnichen.  About  this  time  Walter  Tulloch  was  Deputy 
Chamberlain  of  Scotland  north  of  the  Forth.  He  may  have  been  Walter  of 
Bonnyton.  The  family  was,  for  a  considerable  period,  of  some  note  in  the 
conn+y.  Walter  Tulloch  of  Bonnyton  is  mentioned  in  the  Reg.  Ep.  Bre.  on 
19th  March  and  2Ist  July,  1450.  The  estate  of  Bonnyton  remained  in  the 
Tullochs  until  towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  when  the  male  line 
failed,  and  the  property  fell  to  two  daughters  of  the  last  laird,  co-heiresses  of 
Bonnyton  and  Balnanon.  One  of  these  ladies,  Dorothy  Tulloch,  some  time 
before  4th  January,  1493,  was  married  to  Walter  Wood,  and  carried  to  him 
her  portion  of  these  lands. 


Chap.  XLII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MARYTON.  307 

On  4th  January,  1493,  James  IV.  confirmed  a  charter  by  Dorothy  Tulloch, 
with  consent  of  her  husband,  Walter  Wood,  designed  "  King's  Armiger  "  of 
the  lands  of  Bonnyton  and  Balnanon,  which  were  hers  iiereditarily,  to  John 
Wood,  their  son,  reserving  their  liferent.  William  Wood  may  have  been  a 
relative  of  Andrew  Wood,  Hostiarius,  who  is  a  witness  to  the  resignation  by 
Walter  Tulloch  of  lands  in  the  Mearns  in  1488.  John  died  without  issue, 
and  his  brother  William  succeeded.  William  Wood  of  Bonnyton  was  at  a 
retour  in  1519  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  292),  and  in  1520  he  is  designed  the  son  and 
heir.  He  married  Hon.  Elizabeth  Ogilvy,  the  eldest  daughter  of  John,  second 
Lord  Ogilvy  of  Airlie.  Some  lands  were  resigned  to  him  by  the  Earl  of 
Montrose  in  1532.  Their  daughter,  Marjory,  was  married  to  William  Eamsay 
of  Balmain,  and  their  only  son,  David  Ramsay  of  Balmain,  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Carnegie  of  Kinnalrd. 

On  3d  March,  1530,  William  Wood  acquired  from  James  Durham  of 
Ardestie  a  charter  of  the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  FuUerton,  a  third  part  of 
the  lands  of  Ananie,  and  portions  of  the  lands  of  Kiunaird  and  Little  Carcary. 
In  1535  he  disposed  of  part  of  these  lands  to  Sir  Robert  Carnegie.  William 
Wood  had  also  a  son,  James,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Lord 
Ruthven,  and  from  them  was  descended  John  Wood  of  Bonnyton,  who  was 
knighted  in  1549.  David  Wood  of  Craig,  Comptroller  of  Scotland  in  the  time 
of  James  V.  and  Queen  Mary,  was  also  of  Bonnyton.  He  may  have  been  a 
brother  or  a  son  of  this  William.  On  4th  April,  1547,  this  David  Wood  gave 
Sir  Robert  Carnegie  a  charter  of  certain  lands.  In  that  year  Roger  Wood,  son 
and  heir  of  David  Wood,  is  mentioned. 

Sir  John  Carnegie  of  Kinnaird,  who  succeeded  on  5th  Janury,  1565,  married 
Agnes,  daughter  of  David  Wood  of  Craig,  &c.,  by  whom  he  had  an  only 
daughter,  married  to  Patrick  Kinnaird  of  Kinnaird,  in  Perthshire. 

James,  the  son  of  William  Wood,  sold  the  lands  of  Balnanon,  by  charter, 
to  the  grandfather  of  the  first  Earl  of  Southesk.  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter 
of  James,  married  George  Ramsay  of  Banff.  James  Wood  was  a  juror  on 
9th  August,  1558  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  530). 

At  Montrose,  on  23d  November.  1498,  Jonet  Tulloch,  "  one  of  the  Ladies 
of  Bonnyton."  resigned  the  lands  of  Balnamone  and  Bonnytoune,  with  her  part 
of  the  mill  thereof,  for  a  certain  sum  of  money.  Confirmed  at  Stirling,  24th 
January,  1499,  11th  of  King's  reign.  Jonet  TuUocli  was  married  to  David 
Garden  of  Connonsith,  and  Lord  Innermeath,  on  30th  January,  1508,  con- 
veyed back  the  lands  in  the  charter  (given  with  them)  to  David  Gardeu,  son 


308  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

and  heir  apparent  of  David  and  Jonet,  with  reversion  of  their  liferent.  Con- 
firmation of  same  is  dated  at  Edinburgh,  29th  February,  1508,  21st  of  King's 
reign.  A  similar  charter  of  same  lands  to  David  and  Jonet  in  liferent,  dated 
28th  January,  1.508,  is  confirmed  of  same  date  as  the  other  (Aid.  Mis.,  p.  392). 
These  charters  refer  to  her  portion  only  of  the  lands  of  Bonnyton. 

There  is  a  hiatus  in  the  account  of  the  family  of  the  Woods  of  Bonnyton 
here,  which  we  have  not  been  able  to  supply.  The  years  preceding,  during, 
and  subsequent  to  the  Reformation  were  so  eventful  ones  in  Scotland,  that  it 
need  not  occasion  surprise  although  the  records  of  a  private  family  were  not 
then  kept,  or,  if  written,  preserved.  Doubtless  the  family  shared  in  the 
terrible  struggle  which  was  then  carried  on,  in  the  blessings  resulting  from 
which  we  still  partake. 

In  an  Act  of  Convention  of  Estates  in  1596,  James,  eldest  son  of  the  laird, 
is  brought  prominently  forward.  ''  The  young  laird  of  Bonitone"  was  declared 
an  excommunicated  Papist.  The  Bishop  of  Aberdeen  was  charged  "  to  hear 
his  otfer,  and  finding  them  agreeable  to  the  law  of  God,  conscience,  and  quiet- 
ness of  the  realm,"  to  relieve  him  of  the  sentence  of  excommunication  ;  other- 
wise to  cite  him  to  appear  before  the  council  within  fifteen  days  thereafter. 
The  family  of  the  young  laird  appear  to  have  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the 
Eeformation,  but  whatever  the  Bishop  may  have  reported  of  James  it  fared  ill 
with  him,  as  the  following  from  Chambers's  Domestic  Annals  for  IGOl 
shows : — 

James  Wood,  fiar  or  heir  of  Bonnington,  was  a  Catholic,  and  received  sen- 
tence of  excommunication  some  years  before  1601,  In  March  of  that  year  he 
attended  mass  in  Andrew  Napier's  house  in  Edinburgh,  and  it  was  alleged  he 
had  harboured  a  seminary  priest.  He  had  some  quarrels  with  his  father 
regarding  the  property.  On  16th  March,  accompanied  by  his  brother-in-law, 
William  Wood  of  Lawton,  and  two  blacksmiths  named  Daw,  and  other 
persons,  he  broke  into  his  father's  house  and  took  therefrom  certain  legal 
papers  belonging  to  Lady  Usan,  besides  a  quantity  of  clothes,  napery,  and 
blankets.  The  father  made  no  movement  to  prosecute  his  son,  and  the  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  the  act,  did  we  know  them,  would  probably 
extenuate  the  crime.  He  was,  however,  tried  along  with  William  Wood  of 
Lawton  before  an  assize  in  Edinburgh,  and  both  were  found  guilty  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  executed.  Lawton  obtained  a  remission,  and  great  interest  was 
made  for  the  principal  culprit  by  the  Popish  nobles,  Huntly,  Errol,  and  Home; 
but  the  ministers  opposed  them,  and  the  young  man  was  beheaded  at  the  Cross 


Chap.  XLII.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MAEYTOK  309 

at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  27th  April,  1601,  Until  the  last  he  expected 
to  be  pardoned,  and  he  regarded  himself  as  suffering  for  the  Eoman  Catholic 
religion. 

It  is  not  recorded  whether  the  "  two  blacksmiths  named  Daw  "  were  also 
punished.  There  is  an  inscription  on  a  tombstone  in  Maryton  churchyard  to 
two  men  named  Dall,  which  is  the  same  under  a  difi'erent  spelling  as  Daw. 
These  may  be  the  two  blacksmiths.  Upon  the  stone  there  is  a  crown  and 
hammer,  the  blacksmith's  arms,  showing  that  the  Dalls  had  been  of  that  trade. 

We  have  already  mentioned  that  one  of  the  Woods  of  Craig,  probably  the 
eldest  son  of  David.  Wood,  the  comptroller,  was  knighted.  The  comptroller 
was  proprietor  of  Bonnyton,  and  Sir  David  may  have  succeeded  him  in  the 
estate.  We  have  shown  that  he  possessed  Ananie  at  the  time  of  his  death,  as 
Archibald  Wood  of  Craig  was  retoured  (No.  97)  on  8th  February,  1617,  as 
heir  of  Sir  David,  his  father- 

The  Woods  appear  to  have  got  into  financial  difficulties  shortly  after  this 
period.  In  1626  he  was  Sheriff-elect  of  Angus.  The  laird  of  Dun  was  Sheriff 
the  previous  year,  and  on  24th  August  of  that  year  the  Privy  Council  wrote 
him  requesting  that  he  would  continue  to  hold  the  office  till  next  commission 
day,  when  it  was  hoped  the  horning  against  the  laird  of  Bonnyton,  Sheriff- 
elect,  would  be  purged,  and  he  would  be  able  to  enter  on  the  office.  The  letter 
was  signed  by  George,  Viscount  Duplin,  chancellor,  and  Thomas,  Earl  of 
Melros,  as  Privy  Seal. 

In  a  letter  from  Patrick  Maule  of  Panmure  to  Alexander  Erskine  of  Dun, 
dated  10th  March,  1633  (written  in  reply  to  one  which  he,  at  the  request  of 
the  laird  of  Bonnyton,  had  written  to  Patrick  Maule  asking  him  to  bestow  his 
daughter  upon  the  eldest  son  of  Bonnyton),  he  states  his  unwillingness  to 
bestow  his  daughter  on  the  laird  of  Bonnyton  owing  to  the  youth  of  his 
daughter,  the  large  number  of  children  the  laird  already  had,  although  yet  a 
young  man,  and  the  encumbrances  on  his  estate  (H.  M.  C  ,  p.  637).  The  two 
daughters  of  Panmure  were  married,  one  to  the  Earl  of  Kinghorn,  and  the 
other  to  the  Earl  of  Northesk. 

After  the  death  of  James  Wood,  as  related  above,  his  brother  Henry 
became  fiar  of  Bonnyton,  and  succeeded  to  the  property  on  the  death  of  his 
father.  Henry  died  in  1642,  leaving  two  sons,  Patrick  and  John.  Patrick 
Wood,  the  eldest  son,  referred  to  in  the  letters  above-mentioned  by  Dun  and 
Panmure,  was  knighted,  and  married  Lady  Anne,  daughter  of  John,  first  Earl 
of  Northesk.     The  contract  was  dated  8th  November,  1634.     He  had  by  her 


310  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

two  sons  and  a  daughter.  Patrick  Wood  must  have  died  before  16G4,  as  Lady 
Anne,  who  died  that  year,  gave  directions  in  her  will  for  her  burial  in  the  aisle 
of  Maryton  Kirk,  beside  the  corpse  of  her  deceased  husband. 

The  younger  son,  John,  a  year  after  the  death  of  his  father,  took  an  unusual 
step.  On  27th  July,  1643,  he  was  charged  by  the  Presbytery  of  Brechin,  on 
the  complaint  of  the  minister  of  Maryton,  with  having  "  cum  secretlie  in  ane 
morning,  with  ane  or  two  at  most,  to  his  charch,  and  baptised  ane  chyld,  qlk 
is  suspected  to  be  his  awn."  On  5th  October,  two  of  the  persons  present  at 
the  baptism  declared  that  Mr  Johne  not  only  acknowledged  paternity,  but 
allowed  "  two  peck  of  meill  weiklie  for  the  maintenance  of  the  mother  and  the 
chyld,"  though  it  was  added,  "  the  meill  was  not  given  in  his  name." 

To  this  period  belonged  an  Andrew  Wood,  described  as  of  a  knightly  family 
in  Forfarshire,  who  married  Phillis,  elder  daughter  of  Archibald  Adam  of 
Fanno,  in  Rescobie,  who  sold  these  lands  in  the  reign  of  King  Charles  I.,  and 
acquired  those  of  Queensmanor,  in  the  parish  of  Forfar.  This  Andrew  Wood 
probably  belonged  to  the  family  of  Bonnyton  ;  and,  if  so,  he  may  have  been  a 
son  of  Henry  Wood.  His  wife's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  John  Hay,  a 
merchant  in  Montrose. 

In  1661  John  Wood  of  Bonnyton  was  one  of  the  jurors  at  an  assize  for  the 
service  of  an  heir  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  381).  On  17th  October,  1661,  John  Wood 
of  Bonnyton,  heir  of  Patrick  Wood  of  Bonnytcu,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No. 
379)  in  the  lands  of  Bonnyton — A.E.  £3,  N.E.  £12  ;  in  the  lands  of  Ananie 
— O.E.  30s,  N.E.  £6  ;  and  in  several  lands  in  Tnverkeilor,  St  Vigeans,  &c. 
On  26th  July,  1664,  AVilliam  Gray  of  Invereighty  married  Magdalen, 
daughter  of  John  Wood  of  Bonnyton. 

About  1640  Sir  John  Wood  of  Bonnyton  married  Lady  Mary  Ogilvy,  third 
daughter  of  James,  second  Earl  of  Airlie.  In  1666  the  lands  of  Bonnyton 
were  erected  into  a  barony,  and  their  proprietor  was  created  a  baronet  by 
King  Charles  II.  From  these  several  references  to  John  Wood,  we  are  dis- 
posed to  thmk  there  must  have  been  two  persons  of  the  name.  Perhaps  Patrick 
Wood,  who  died  before  1664,  and  John  Wood,  who  usurped  the  functions  of 
the  parish  minister,  may  each  have  had  a  son  named  John,  one  of  whom  was 
knighted,  and  the  other  created  a  baronet.  The  Ogilvys  were  loyal  to  the 
core,  and  the  Earl  of  Airlie  well  deserved  to  have  had  his  son-in-law  raised  to 
the  baronetage.  The  fact  of  John  Wood  having  married  a  daughter  of  the 
Earl  of  Airlie  is  good  evidence  that  he  was  also  loyal  to  the  Royal  House  of 
Stuart. 


Chap.  XLII.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— MARYTON.  311 

When  the  chief  of  the  Woods  of  Bonnyton  was  created  a  baronet,  the  family 
were  also  proprietors  of  Letliam  and  Idvies.  At  that  time  prosperity  appeared 
to  attend  them,  but  it  was  of  short  duration,  as  their  affairs  became  embar- 
rassed within  a  few  years  thereafter. 

About  1682  their  estates,  including  Letham  and  Idvies,  were  adjudged  to 
be  sold,  and  at  the  judicial  sale,  shortly  thereafter,  it  seems  that  William 
Lyell  had  probably  been  the  purchaser,  as  he  is  designed  of  Dysart  and  Bon- 
niton  about  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was  in  the  time  of  Sir  John 
Wood  that  the  lands  were  sold.  He  was  succeeded  in  his  title,  and  probably 
in  part  of  the  family  property,  by  his  eldest  son,  Sir  James,  who  was  alive  in 
1728  (H.  of  0.  of  S.,  382).  Sir  James  is  supposed  to  have  been  residing  at 
that  time  with  some  friends  at^or  near  Idvies.  Colonel  Wood  of  Bonnyton 
is  mentioned  in  1709. 

The  Rev.  Mr  Fraser  of  Maryton  says  the  presumption,  however,  is  that  the 
Bonnyton  estate  continued  to  be  held  by  the  family  after  the  loss  of  their  other 
possessions,  as  there  is  a  minute  in  the  Session  Records  of  1727  which  takes 
for  granted  the  possibility  of  their  returning  to  reside  in  the  parish. 

The  old  Castle  of  Bonnyton  is  supposed  to  have  been  erected  in  the  year  in 
which  the  baronetcy  was  created.  Its  site  is  well  known,  but  no  description  of 
it  is  known  to  exist.  It  is  said  to  have  fallen  down  in  1785.  It  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  rnoat.  The  only  remains  of  the  castle  are  two  slabs,  which  are 
built  into  the  farm  offices.  On  one  is  a  carving  of  the  arms  of  Scotland,  and 
on  the  other  that  of  the  family  of  Wood.     Both  are  dated  1666. 

A  parishioner  of  Maryton,  whose  grandmother  was  a  cottager  in  Bonnyton, 
has  heard  her  speak  of  a  report,  which  was  common  in  her  younger  days,  that 
the  Woods  disappeared  somewhat  mysteriously  from  the  parish.  One  evening 
they  were  known  to  have  sat  down  to  supper,  and  next  morning  they  had  dis- 
appeared, never  again  to  be  seen  in  the  parish,  and  very  little  heard  of  until 
Sir  James,  as  it  has  been  stated,  was  found  to  be  sojourning  in  another  part 
of  the  county. 

This  tradition  so  much  resembles  the  story  of  the  last  descendants  of  the 
Murrays  of  Melgund,  in  Aberlemno  parish  (Vol.  II.,  p.  321),  that  they  pro- 
bably have  a  common  origin,  and  may  be  called  legends. 

If  the  Lyells  acquired  Bon  niton  at  the  judicial  sale,  as  mentioned  above, 
they  had  not  retained  possession  of  it  very  long.  Tlie  estate  appears  to  have 
been  acquired  by  the  Mills,  who  also  owned  Fullerton.  Mill  of  Bonnyton  is 
mentioned  in  the  Session  Records  in  1728.    William  Mill  of  Bonnyton  was  laird 


312  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

for  a  considerable  time.  He  died  in  1771.  He  was  succeeded  in  tlie  estate  by 
his  nephew,  James  Mill  The  lands  of  Bonny  ton  have  for  many  years  been 
in  possession  of  the  noble  family  of  Southesk, 

The  lands  of  Drymme  or  Drum  in  this  parish  came  into  possession  of  a 
branch  of  the  VVisharts  of  Fitarrow  in  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  or  beginning  of 
the  sixteenth  century.  Precept  of  sasine  of  charter  in  favour  of  George 
Wishart,  in  the  lands  of  Wester  Dodd,  in  the  parish  of  Forfar,  is  granted  in 
the  hands  of  George  Wishart  of  Drymme.  The  charter  is  dated  5th,  and 
sasine  on  14th,  June,  1565.  George  Wishart  of  Drymme  is  a  witness  to  the 
discharge  of  an  assignation  by  the  laird  of  Dun,  dated  12th  June,  1581. 

It  is  stated  that  a  royal  charter  of  the  Moor  of  Mefiboy  (Montboy)  was 
granted  to  George  Wishart,  elder  of  Drymme  ;  and  that  George  Wishart,  son 
of  the  preceding,  sold  the  Moor  of  Menboy,  on  26th  July,  1605,  to  iVlexander 
Campbell,  Bishop  of  Brechin,  and  Helen  Clephane,  his  second  wife,  George 
appears  to  have  been  a  very  common  Christian  name  in  the  family  of  Wishart. 
We  do  not  know  when  the  Wisharts  ceased  to  be  proprietors  in  the  parish  of 
Maryton.  About  the  period  of  the  Reformation,  wherever  members  of  the 
family  of  Wishart  of  Pitarrow  were  located^  tlieir  influence  in  the  district  was 
for  good. 

We  have  already  mentioned  that  Dyserth  was  gifted  to  the  Priory  of  Res- 
teneth  by  Malcolm  IV.  The  lands  of  Little  Dysert  paid  an  annual  rate  of 
V.  lib.  to  the  Priory  (Aid.  Mis.).  This  Dysart  is  not  among  the  churches 
rated  in  the  Old  Taxation,  but  the  Church  of  Dysart,  in  Fife,  is  rated  at  xx. 
merks  (Reg  de  Aberb.,  p.  236).  According  to  Joyce,  the  name  signifies  a 
hermitage,  or  the  abode  of  a  hermit  or  recluse.  It  will  be  seen  from  what  we 
have  said  that  the  name  has  undergone  various  changes  in  the  orthography. 

The  Melvilles  are  the  earliest  proprietors  of  Dysart  we  have  been  able  to 
find.  In  a  convention  between  Abbot  John  Geddy  and  the  burgesses  of 
Arbroath,  anent  the  erection  of  harbour  there,  dated  2d  April,  1394,  Andrew 
de  Melville  is  one  of  the  witnesses  (Arb.  and  its  Ab.,  p.  48).  This  is  the 
earliest  mention  of  the  name  in  this  district  with  which  we  have  met,  but  we 
do  not  know  his  designation. 

The  first  Melville  of  Dysart  we  have  any  knowledge  of  is  Sir  Robert  Mel- 
weill  of  Dysert,  who  fell  at  the  Battle  of  Harlaw  fighting  against  Donald  of  the 
Isles,  25th  July,  1411.      Johannes  Malveyn  de  Disert  is  mentioned  in  1457. 


Chap.  XLIL]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MARYTON.  313 

John  Melville  was  proprietor  of  Dysart  about  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  He  was  succeeded  by  another  John  Melville.  This  John  may  have 
been  succeeded  by  Thomas  Melville,  who,  in  1542  is  reported  as  "fear  of 
Disert."  He  married  Janet  Scrymgeour.  Frequent  intermarriages  took  place 
between  members  of  the  families  of  Melville  and  Scrymgeour,  branches  of  the 
Scrymgeours,  Constables  of  Dundee.  James  Melville,  in  his  diary  for  1575, 
mentions  having  "  buried  guid  auld  Thomas  Melville  of  Dysart,  the  mirrie 
man."    He  had  been  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  and  he  lived  to  an  old  age. 

Thomas  was  succeeded  by  a  son  who  had  previously  acquired  the  property 
of  Lawgavin,  in  Glenbervie.  There  is  a  confirmation  charter,  dated  January, 
1572,  "ratefieand  ye  Charter  donation  and  gift  in  it  contenit,  maid  be  his  lovitt 
Thomas  Melville  of  Dysart  to  James  Melvill  of  Liegavin,  his  son  and  apper- 
ande  air,  his  airs  and  assignais,  of  all  and  haill  ye  landis  and  baronie  of  Dysart, 
&c.,  lyand  wytin  ye  Scherifdam  of  Forfare."  His  wife  was  Isabel  Douglas, 
eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Archibald  Douglas  of  Glenbervie,  by  his  second  wife 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Irvine  of  Drum.  Her  half-brother,  Sir 
William,  succeeded  to  the  earldom  of  Angus,  as  heir-male,  in  1588. 

William  Morreson,  minister  of  Benholm  (1577-1589),  married  a  daughter 
of  James  Melvill  of  Dysart,  and  had  an  only  child,  Isobel.  Whether  he  had 
other  children,  or  how  long  the  property  remained  in  his  hands,  we  do  not 
know ;  but  the  initials  I.  M.,  with  the  date  1594,  are  on  a  stone  in  the  garden 
wall.  The  following  extract  from  an  "  Act  Bulk  of  the  Commissariat  of  St 
Andrews "  relates  to  a  brother : — "  Feb.  7,  1595,  cans  persewit  be  David 
Melvill,  burges  of  Dundie,  agt  David  Melville  of  Baldovie,  and  Mr  James 
Melville,  his  tutor.  Makand  mention  that  upon  24th  April,  1586,  the  said 
David  Melville  of  Baldovie  became  obliest  to  have  payit  to  Thomas  Melvill, 
now  callit  Mr  Thomas  Melvill,  lauchful  sone  to  umqle  Thos.  Melvill  of 
Dysart,  100  merks,  or  an  annual  rent  of  ten  merks  furth  of  the  lands  of  Bal- 
dovie, &c." 

The  Melvilles  appear  to  have  begun  to  decay  about  this  period,  and  about 
the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  they  had  probably  parted  with  the 
greater  portion  of  the  lands  of  Dysart.  We  have  not  ascertained  when  the 
whole  of  the  estate  passed  finally  from  the  family,  but  it  was  not  before  the 
fourth  decade  of  that  century,  and  it  may  have  been  after  it.  On  8th  January, 
1631, Robert  Melville,  heir  of  James  Melville,  feoditario  of  Dysart,  his  brother, 
was  retoured  (No.  196)  in  the  dominical  lands  of  the  Mains  of  Meikle  Dysart 
in  the  barony  of  Dysart— A.E.  £3  6s  8d,  N.E.  £13  6s  8d. 
2r 


314  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  principal  part  of  the  estate  had  doubtless  been  sold  some  time  before 
the  date  of  this  service,  and  it  is  probable  that  Robert  Melville  had  not  re- 
tained the  dominical  lands  long  after  they  came  into  his  possession.  This  is  the 
last  mention  of  the  Melvilles  as  proprietors  of  Dysart  with  which  we  have  met. 

James  Melville,  son  of  the  minister  of  Maryton,  was  born  at  Baldovie  on 
the  25th  July,  1556.  He  was  sent  early  to  a  school  at  Logic,  along  with  his 
brother  Andrew.  While  in  his  fourteenth  year  he  partook  of  the  holy  com- 
munion. He  returned  home  to  Baldovie  in  1571,  and  was  at  once  employed 
on  the  farm,  but  his  heart  was  bent  on  learning,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  Uni- 
versity. While  there  he  was  a  frequent  hearer  of  John  Knox.  After  an 
absence  of  four  years  he  returned  home  and  found  that  his  father  wanted  to 
make  him  a  lawj^er,  but  he  wanted  to  be  a  minister. 

John  Finheaven,  a  carrier  between  Montrose  and  Edinburgh,  did  the  whole 
carrying  business  between  those  places  then.  Part  of  his  returning  load  was 
books  and  ballads  which  thirty  years  previously  it  would  have  been  death  to 
read.  The  ballads  were  then  the  bearers  of  public  intelligence  as  newspapers 
now  are,  but  as  John  could  not  make  many  journeys  in  the  course  of  a  year, 
the  news  came  seldom,  and  was  long  on  the  way. 

While  at  Montrose  Melville  and  his  companions  played  golf  on  the  links. 
They,  *'  for  archerie  and  goff,  haid  bow,  arrose,  glubs,  and  bals."  He  got 
through  with  his  studies,  went  to  Glasgow,  preached  his  first  sermon  at  the 
age  of  18,  and  at  19  became  a  profeesor  in  the  University  there.  Then  he  went 
to  St  Andrews  to  fill  the  chair  of  Hebrew  and  Oriental  languages.  On  1st 
May,  1583,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Drury,  minister  of  Edin- 
burgh. He  became  minister  of  Anstruther  Wester,  with  Pittenweem,  Aber- 
cromby,  and  Kilrenny  attached.  Next  to  Knox  and  Andrevv  Melville,  there 
was  none  who  did  more  for  the  establishment  of  the  Protestant  religion  in 
Scotland  than  James  Melville.  For  his  labours  he  was  banished  a  prisoner  at 
large  to  Newcastle  and  Berwick.  There  he  was  offered  a  Bishopric  by  way 
of  a  bribe,  but  declined.  He  died  at  Berwick  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  exile, 
and  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

The  Guthries  appear  to  have  succeeded  the  Melvilles  in  part  of  Dysart ;  or, 
if  there  was  an  intermediate  laird  between  the  Melvilles  and  the  Guthries,  ho 
had  retained  the  property  for  a  very  short  time. 

On  4th  November,  1653,  John  Guthrie  of  Over  Dysart,  as  heir  male  of  his 
uncle,  John  Guthrie  of  Innerlunan,  was  retoured  in  Innerlunan.  The  sasine 
upon  the  precept  following  on  this  retour  is  registered  11th  February,  1654, 


Chap.  XLII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAEYTON.  315 

We  have  not  ascertained  when  the  Guthries  acquired  Dysart,  nor  when  they 
parted  with  it.  They  were  succeeded  by  the  Lyells,  who,  after  having  acquired 
the  estate,  were  designed  of  Dysart. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Lyells  of  Dysart  was  laird  of  Balmaleddie,  in  the 
Mearns.  The  family  was  of  considerable  position,  judging  from  their  inter- 
marriages with  the  principal  families  of  Angus  and  Mearns.  The  first  pro- 
prietor of  Dysart  is  believed  to  have  been  Walter  Lyell,  who  was  the  son  of 
James  Lyell,  the  fifth  laird  of  Balmaleddie,  by  Jean  Hay,  daughter  of  the 
laird  of  Urie.  He  was  born  in  1595,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  purchased 
Dysart  towards  the  close  of  his  life.  His  father  got  into  financial  difficulties, 
and  he  had  to  dispose  of  Balmaleddie.  From  the  Balmaleddie  family  the 
Lyells  of  Gardyne,  Kinnordy,  and  the  others  of  the  name  in  this  county  are 
descended. 

Walter  Lyell  had  probably  studied  for  the  law,  as  he  received  an  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  of  hereditary  Town  Clerk  of  Montrose,  which  was  held  by 
himself  and  his  son  in  succession  until  the  Eevolution  in  1GS8.  Walter 
Lyell  married,  first,  a  lady  named  Hamilton,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  David, 
who  was  minister  in  Montrose,  and  laird  of  Balhall ;  secondly,  a  daughter  of 
Finlayson  of  Gagie,  Provost  of  Dundee,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Thomas,  who 
inherited  Dysart,  and  was  Town  Clerk  of  Montrose.  Thomas  Lyell  married 
Jean  Maria  Lindsay,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Colonel  Lindsay,  brother  of  the 
Earl  of  Crawford,  and  cousin  to  Lindsay  of  Edzell.  Her  father  was  killed  at 
the  seige  of  Braedaw.  Thomas  Lyell  died  in  1689,  leaving  a  son  to  succeed 
him. 

On  21st  June,  1698,  William  Lyell,  heir  of  Thomas  Lyell  of  Dysart,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  548)  in  the  lands  and  dominical  lands  of  Meilde 
Dysart,  with  mill,  multures,  and  pendicles  called  Crookward,  Balstote,  Geightie- 
burne.  Westward,  Eastward,  in  the  barony  of  Dysart — A.E.  40s,  N.E.  £8  ; 
lands  of  Over  Dysart  or  Little  Dysart,  in  the  parishes  of  Brechin  and  Maryton 
— E.  7m.  &c.,  feudifirm^B,  united  in  the  barony  of  Dysart. 

William  Lyell  of  Dysart  is  said  to  have,  owned  Bonnyton  for  some  time. 
He  had  three  sons,  the  second  of  whom  was  the  founder  of  the  Gardyne 
family.  The  affairs  of  William  Lyell  having  got  into  disorder,  Dysart  was 
sold  about  1715. 

The  purchaser  of  Dysart  appears  to  have  been  John  Milne,  a  magistrate  of 
Montrose.  He  is  mentioned  as  proprietor  of  Dysart  in  the  parish  records  in 
1719,  but  he  may  have  owned  the  lands  several  years  before  there  was  occasion 


316  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Pabt  XIV. 

to  have  his  came  inserted  in  the  records.  In  a  minute  of  1727  there  is  re- 
ference to  a  bond  by  John  Milne  of  Dysart,  dated  Montrose,  2d  December, 
1719.  The  minister  was  recommended  "  to  converse  with  Bailie  Milne  about 
the  interest,  which  had  not  been  paid  since  the  date  of  the  bond,  many  years 
before."  John  Milne  had  died  before  1731,  and  been  succeeded  by  his  son, 
for  that  year  it  was  reported  "  that  the  minister  and  three  of  the  elders  had 
waited  upon  James  Milne  of  Dysart  in  order  to  have  the  bond  granted  by  his 
father  for  the  behoof  of  the  poor  of  this  parish,"  and  the  said  bond  was  put 
into  the  box. 

James  Milne's  ownership  had  not  been  prosperous,  and  the  Kirk  Session 
were  summoned  to  a  meeting  of  his  creditors  on  3d  January,  1739.  Some  days 
after  a  bill  was  delivered  to  them  on  his  behalf,  "  accepted  by  James  Scot  of 
Logie,  John  Scot  of  Hedderwick,  Archibald  Scot  of  Rossie,  Alexander  Mill  of 
Ballachie,  Alexander  Turnbnll  of  Nether  Woodtown,  and  James  Mill,  ship- 
master in  Montrose,  and  in  December,  same  year,  a  discharge  was  granted  to 
his  trustees. 

Previous  to  the  discharge  being  granted  to  the  trustees  of  James  Milne, 
David  Carnegie  had  acquired  possession  of  the  lands  of  Meikle  and  Little 
Dysarts  through  his  wife,  Margaret  Dempster,  heiress  of  Logie  and  Dysart, 
the  nature  of  whose  connection  with  the  properties,  or  the  families  who  owned 
them,  has  not  been  discovered.  A  year  or  two  afterwards  James  Milne,  then 
a  merchant  in  Montrose,  made  good  to  the  Session  the  loss  which  they  had 
sustained  in  accepting  the  composition  offered  to  his  creditors. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  property  was  owned  by 
the  Dempsters.  David  Carnegy  of  Craigo  married  the  heiress  on  26th  October, 
1704,  and  got  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Meikle  and  Little  Dysarts  on  28th 
April,  1739.  This  family  became  extinct  on  the  death  of  Thomas  Carnegy  of 
Craigo  on  12th  June,  1856,  He  left  a  will  bequeathing  his  estates,  including 
Dysart,  to  his  cousin,  Thomas  Macpherson  Grant,  W.S.,  Edinburgh.  He  died 
on  23d  September,  1881,  without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  in  Dysart,  in  terms 
of  til  at  settlement,  by  the  sisters  of  Thomas  Carnegy. 

King  James  YI.  gifted  the  teinds  of  Meikill  and  Littill  Dysart  to  John 
Stewart,  son  of  John  Stewart,  servant  to  Lord  Dun,  for  seven  years,  to  support 
him  at  school.  The  first  gift  was  signed  at  Holyrood  House  on  24th  Decem- 
ber, 1583,  extended  on  6th  January,  1585,  and  confirmed  13th  December, 
1588  (Reg.  Ep.  Br.). 

In  1820  Col.  the  Hon.  John  Ramsay  of  Dysart  is  included  among  the  free- 


Chap.  XLII.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MARYTON.  317 

holders  of  Forfarshire  in  the  Edinburgh  Almanac  for  that  year.  We  do  not 
know  who  he  was.  The  Ramsays  of  Balraain  are  descended  from  a  daughter 
of  Provost  Mill,  who  was  nearly  related  to  the  Mills  of  Dysart,  and  he  may 
have  been  a  member  of  the  Balmain  family,  but  we  have  not  otherwise  heard 
of  a  Ramsay  in  connection  with  Dysart. 

In  1327  King  Robert  the  Bruce  granted  and  confirmed  to  Geoffrey  of 
Foullertone  and  Agnes,  his  wife,  the  lands  of  FouUertone,  in  Forftirshire.  with 
the  office  of  King's  falconer  within  the  shire  of  Forfar,  and  entertainment  in  the 
King's  house  at  Forfar,  when  the  King  or  his  court  were  there,  for  the  falconer 
himself,  a  servant,  a  boy,  and  two  horses.  The  King's  fowler  was,  in  early 
times,  an  important  office  at  the  court  of  the  King.  The  family  assumed 
their  surname  from  the  office  to  which  they  had  been  appointed,  and  from 
their  office  was  their  lands  called. 

The  estate  of  Fullerton  remained  for  a  considerable  period  in  the  family  to 
whom  they  were  gifted  by  Robert  I.  David  of  Fullerton  is  mentioned  on 
12th  February,  1374-5.  Adam  Fullerton  of  that  ilk  is  mentioned  in  1392. 
William  of  Fullerton  on  22d  March,  1420.  David  of  Fullerton  was  a  witness 
on  20th  March,  1446.  Robert  Fullerton  of  Fullerton,  whose  mother  was 
Margaret  Ogilvy  of  Lintrathen,  is  mentioned  same  year.  On  23d  March, 
same  year,  William  and  David  of  Fullerton  are  mentioned.  Alexander 
Fullerton  got  a  grant  of  the  hermitage  of  Kilgarie  on  16th  February,  1454. 
Robert  of  Fullerton  and  WilHam  of  Fullerton  of  Abriven  are  mentioned  21st 
July,  1450.  Most  of  these  references  are  from  the  His.  of  the  Car.  of  So. 
Some  of  these  parties,  although  designed  of  Fullerton,  may  have  been  only 
members  of  the  family  of  the  laird. 

Although  we  have  shown  above  that  the  Fullertons  retained  an  interest  in, 
and  were  designed  of,  Fullerton  until  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  they  had  begun  to  dispose  of  portions  of  their  lands  at  an  earlier 
period.  As  mentioned  above  in  the  account  of  Ananie,  the  second  Crawmont 
succeeded  his  relative  in  the  third  part  of  Ananie,  Fullerton,  and  other  lands 
in  1447,  and  his  predecessor  may  be  supposed  to  have  possessed  those  pro- 
perties for  a  number  of  years  before  that  date,  and  James,  the  heir,  after  it. 

In  1447  the  Fullertons  sold  what  remained  of  the  lands  of  Fullerton,  the 
third  part  of  Ananie,  and  others  to  the  Earl  of  Montrose. 

The  lands,  or  part  of  them,  which  belonged  to  the  Crawmonts,  appear  to 
have  passed  from  them  to  the  Durhams  of  Ardestie,  in  the  parish  of  Monikie. 


318  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

They  were  a  brancli  of  the  old  family  of  Grange  of  Monifieth,  an  account  of 
whom  will  be  given  in  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Monifieth.  The  family 
were  proprietors  of  lands  in  several  parishes  in  Angus.  On  3d  March,  1530, 
on  the  resignation  of  James  Durham  of  Ardestie,  William  Wood  of  Bonyton 
obtained  a  charter  of  the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  Fullerton,  a  third  part  of 
the  land  of  Ananie,  a  sixth  part  of  an  eighteenth  part  of  Kinnaird,  and  a  sixth 
part  of  an  eighteenth  part  of  Little  Carcary.  Two  years  later  he  received 
charters  of  the  same  lands,  with  the  exception  of  Fullerton,  upon  the  resigna- 
tion of  William,  Earl  of  Montrose  (MS  at  Panmure). 

The  Fullertons  of  Fullerton,  after  having  sold  Fullerton  in  Maryton,  left 
the  district,  and  acquired  lands  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  parish  of  Meigle, 
which  they  called  by  their  own  name,  Fullerton.  These  lands  they  retained 
for  a  considerable  period.  They  subsequently  intermarried  with  the  Carnegies 
of  Boysack,  Kinblethmont,  &c.,  left  Fullerton,  and  settled  in  Inverkeilor.  An 
account  of  the  family  has  been  given  in  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Inver- 
keilor (Vol.  III.,  p.  439-41).  The  lands  of  Fullerton  in  Meigle  have  passed 
through  many  hands  since  the  Fullertons  parted  with  them,  but  they  still 
retain  the  name  given  to  them  by  the  posterity  of  the  Fowlers. 

Fullerton  of  that  ilk,  descended  from  Ranald  or  Reginald  Fullerton,  whose 
son.  Sir  Adam,  obtained,  denova,  a  charter  of  these  lands  from  James,  High 
Steward  of  Scotland  in  1240  (Geneal^-  of  the  Wedder"-  p.  116). 

In  1535  William  Wood  disposed  of  part  of  the  lands  acquired  in  1530  to 
Sir  Robert  Carnegie,  and  on  4th  April,  1547,  David  Wood  of  Craig  and 
Bonnyton  gave  Sir  Robert  a  charter  of  other  lands.  On  1st  February,  1617, 
Archibald  Wood  of  Craig,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  David  Wood  of  Craig,  knight, 
was  retoured  (No.  97)  in  the  lands  of  Balkeillie,  Fullerton,  and  Demini 
Easter,  united  in  the  barony  of  Hilton— A.B.  £12  16s,  N.E.  £50  4s. 

Archibald  Wood  may  have  disposed  of  Fullerton  shortly  after  having  come 
into  possession,  as  that  property  appears  to  have  been  acquired  by  the  Earl  of 
Montrose,  it  being  one  of  the  estates  conveyed  in  liferent  to  the  Hon^^''-  Mag- 
dalene Carnegie,  in  terms  of  her  marriage  contract  with  the  Earl  in  1629,  and 
she  retained  possession  of  all  the  lands  of  which  she  had  charters  from  the 
Marquis  for  many  years  after  his  untimely  death,  as  shown  by  the  Deed  of 
Gift  given  ])elow.  The  Marquises  of  Montrose  appear  to  have  retained  the 
lands  of  Fullerton  after  the  death  of  the  Marchioness. 

John  Coutts  of  Phalertonn  (Fullerton)  was  appointed  a  Commissioner  of 
Supply  in  Forfarshire  in  1686.     He  was  a  mercliant  in,  and  Provost  of,  Mon- 


Chap.  XLII.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MARYTON.  319 

trose.  By  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  he  was  infeft  in  the  lands  of 
Fullerton,  1st  March,  1678.  He  died  in  April,  1707.  William,  eldest  son 
of  Provost  John  Coutts,  baptised  20th  June,  16G1,  is  described  of  Fullerton 
on  being  appointed  a  Commissioner  of  Sup[)ly  in  1690.  He  appears  as  Com- 
missioner of  Supply  in  1704.  He  married  Catherine  Pearson,  by  whom  he 
had  four  sons  and  four  daughters  (Fam^-  of  Coutts,  p.  15-16). 

The  family  of  Robert  Mill  of  Balwyllo  acquired  several  estates  in  the  county. 
One  of  them,  William,  was  laird  of  the  barony  of  Bonnyton,  including  the 
lands  of  Fullerton.  There  is  evidence  in  a  parish  document,  dated  1768,  that 
"  all  and  haill  the  toun  and  lands  of  Fullarton,  and  manor  places  thereof,  with 
the  miln,  miln  lands,  and  pertinents  of  the  same,"  belonged  to  William  Mill 
of  Bennington.  This  William  appears  to  have  owned  these  lands  from  about 
1725  until  his  death  in  1771,  He  appears  to  have  left  no  issue.  His 
initials  and  those  of  his  wife,  W.  M.  and  M.  W.,  with  the  date  1766,  are  still 
on  the  cart  shed  of  Fullerton. 

The  lands  of  Fullerton  and  Ananie  were  purchased  by  Sir  David  Carnegie 
in  1789,  and  since  then  they  have  remained  in  possession  of  the  noble  family 
of  Carnegie  of  Kinnaird. 

A  small  outlying  section  of  the  parish  is  in  the  old  i\[oor  of  Montreath- 
mont,  and  there  is  a  tradition  that  the  union  was  formed  in  the  following 
somewhat  romantic  manner.  When  Lady  Magdalene  Carnegie  was  espoused 
to  James  Graham,  the  first  Marquis  of  Montrose,  she  claimed  from  her  father, 
the  Earl  of  Southesk,  something  for  pin  money,  in  addition  to  her  dowry,  and 
he  agreed  to  give  her  as  much  of  the  moor  as  she  could  walk  round  within  a 
given  time.  The  lady^  perhaps  with  the  view  of  getting  a  large  slice  of  it, 
walked  too  far  in  a  direct  line,  and  found,  when  half  the  given  time  was  almost 
gone,  that  to  reach  the  starting  point  within  the  time  she  could  not  make 
a  long  lateral  diversion,  and  her  perambulation,  therefore,  included  a  long 
narrow  stripe,  which  is  the  description  of  Grahamsfirth  to  the  present  time. 
There  is  a  more  prosaic  account  given  of  this  land,  but  it  is  uninteresting. 
The  marriage  took  place  on  the  lOtli  November,  1629. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  chapter  we  mentioned  "  the  lands  which  in  Scotch 
were  called  Abthen."  King  William  gifted  these  lands,  with  the  Church 
of  St  Alary 's  of  Old  Montrose,  to  the  Monastery  of  Aberbrothock.  The 
lands  so  gifted  in  free  and  perpetual  alms  were  those  of  Over  and  Nether 


320  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Maryton,  or  the  farm  of  Mary  ton  proper,  in  this  parish,  together  with  the 
glebe. 

The  abbot  and  convent  may  have  retained  the  Abthen  in  their  own  hands 
for  a  series  of  years,  letting  it  to  a  tenant  or  husbandman,  and  receiving  the 
produce  in  kind,  or  partly  in  money  and  partly  in  kind.  We  have  referred  to  the 
subject  of  the  labouring  church  lands  at  some  length  in  the  chapter  on  Cupar 
Abbey,  Vol.  II.,  p.  91,  &c. 

The  religious  houses  appear  to  have  begun  to  give  off  their  lands  in  perpetuity 
for  a  fixed  annual  rent  or  feu  at  an  early  period,  and  the  Convent  of  Aberbrothock 
had  probably  so  given  off  the  Abthen  lands.  The  Fullertons  of  that  ilk  had 
acquired  a  part  of  these  lands,  but  we  do  not  know  when.  There  is  a  deed  of 
resignation  of  the  lands  of  Maryton  by  William  Fullerton  of  that  ilk  in  1447. 
It  was  at  this  time  the  family  sold  the  remainder  of  FuUerton  and  the  third  of 
Ananie,  to  the  Grahams,  Earls  of  Montrose. 

The  abbot  and  monks  appear  to  have  given  off  another  portion  of  these 
lands  to  the  Ogilvys,  who  possessed  lands  in  various  parishes  in  the  eastern 
district  of  the  county  at  a  pretty  early  period.  We  do  not  know  when  they 
were  given  off,  but  it  probably  was  about  the  same  time  that  the  Fullertons 
acquired  part  of  them. 

On  2d  June,  1446,  Janetto  Ogilvy,  with  consent  of  her  sons,  Eobert, 
Richard-John,  and  John  Fullerton,  sold  Maryton  to  Wat  of  Carnegie.  The 
consent  of  her  eldest  son,  Pattown  Fullerton,  had  not  been  obtained  to  the  sale, 
and  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  of  Lintrathen,  knight,  with  the  three  sons  of  Janet — 
Robert,  Richard- John,  and  John — bound  themselves  to  obtain  the  evidence  of 
the  said  Janet  that  she  held  the  land  without  right  thereto,  "  bot  anerly  of 
tholance  of  the  previous  and  present  bishop  ;"  and  they  obliged  themselves  that 
if  Pattoun  of  Fowlartown,  or  any  of  his  sonnys,  &c.,  should  object  to  the  sale, 
that  they  would  defend  and  sustaine  the  purchase,  &c.  (Reg.  Ep.  Br.  I.,  108. 

The  reference  to  the  Bishops  of  Brechin  in  this  sale  of  Maryton  implies  that 
the  chapter  of  Brechin  Cathedral  had  acquired  the  lands  of  Maryton,  or  an 
interest  in  them,  from  the  Monastery  of  Aberbrothock  some  time  prior  to  1446. 
John  de  Carnoth  was  then  Bishop,  and  his  predecessor  was  Walter  Forrester. 

After  the  Reformation  Alexander  Campbell,  a  kinsman  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle, 
was,  through  the  influence  of  his  chief,  the  Earl,  appointed  Bishop  of  Brechin. 
In  token  of  his  gratitude  to  his  patron  and  chief,  he  bestowed  upon  the  Earl  a 
great  part  of  the  property  belonging  to  the  See  of  Brechin,  including  the 
church  lands  of  Maryton  and  many  others.     He  also  invested  the  Earl  in  the 


Chap.  XLH.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MARYTON.  321 

oflSce  of  bailie  of  the  whole  lands  under  the  jurisdiction,  We  have  already 
referred  to  this  boy  Bishop  and  his  actinos,  Vol.  II.,  p.  84.  The  yearly  rent 
of  the  whole  lands  gifted  to  the  Earl  by  the  Bishop  amounted  to  Jt357  lOs  8d 
Scots,  or  £29  los  lOfd  sterling,  but  it  was  a  large  sum  in  155G,  when  the  lands 
were  given  away  "  without  money  and  without  price."  The  present  rental  of 
the  lands  is  of  considerable  amount. 

It  is  not  known  how  long  the  Earl  of  Argyle  was  a  proprietor  in  the 
parish,  but  the  entire  Abthen,  with  the  exception  of  the  glebe  and  the 
church  pertinents,  had  been  acquired  by  the  Grahams  prior  to  the  time 
of  the  first  Marquis.  Since  they  came  into  possession  of  this  family  they 
have  formed  a  part  of  the  estate  of  Old  Montrose,  and  the  names  of  the 
owners  of  Maryton  will  be  given  in  the  proprietary  history  of  the  lands  of  Old 
Montrose. 

The  earliest  notice  we  have  met  with  of  the  lands  of  Monros  is  the  following 
—John,  thayne  of  Monros,  was  one  at  an  inquest  anent  the  lands  of  Inver- 
peffer  on  12th  February,  1250  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  190).  These  lands  had  then 
been  in  the  Crown,  and  under  the  charge  of  John,  the  thane. 

The  lands  of  Old  Montrose  had  been  Crown  property  in  the  beginning  of  the 
I4th  century.  They  were  granted  by  King  Robert  I.  to  his  devoted  follower 
Sir  David  Graham.  He  was  one  of  the  bold  barons  who  subscribed  the 
famous  letter  to  the  Pope  in  1320.  The  King,  at  Scone,  on  5th  March,  1325, 
issued  a  warrant  to  Bernard,  Abbot  of  Arbroath,  Chancellor  of  Scotland,  to 
expede  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal,  in  favour  of  Sir  David  Graham,  senior, 
knight,  of  the  lands  of  Old  Montrose,  according  to  the  tenor  of  a  charter  which 
Sir  David  had  obtained  thereof,  under  the  King's  private  seal.  The  charter  is 
of  the  same  date  as  the  warrant,  and  it  bears  to  have  been  granted  by  the 
King  to  Sir  David  for  his  homage  and  service,  and  in  exchange  for  the  lands 
of  Cardross  in  Dumbartonshire,  of  the  whole  lands  of  Old  Montrose,  to  be  held 
of  the  King  and  his  heirs  in  feu  and  heritage  for  performing  the  Scottish  ser- 
vice pertaining  to  these  lands. 

The  King  was  then  worn  out  with  the  hardships  he  had  undergone,  and 
wished  Cardross,  which  was  situated  in  a  beautifid  and  healthy  district,  as  a 
place  of  retirement  and  rest.  At  same  time  he  wished  to  reward  the  services 
of  his  attached  subject,  Old  Montrose  having  been  a  much  more  valuable  pro- 
perty than  Cardross.  The  King  died  in  the  Castle  of  Cardross  on  7th  June, 
1329,  in  the  24th  year  of  his  reign,  and  Sir  David  did  not  long  survive  his 
2s 


323  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

ro3-al  master.  The  charter  of  King  Robert  was  confirmed  by  King  David  II., 
11th  January,  1358. 

A  controversy  arose  between  Sir  David  of  Graham,  knight,  tlie  friend  of  The 
Bruce,  and  Sir  John,  son  of  Sir  David  of  Lindesay  of  Thuristonn,  regarding 
the  laridi  of  Anldinnnros.  The  case  was  brought  before  the  Parliament  of 
King  Kobert  II.,  held  at  Scone  in  Mai'ch,  1372.  The  Parliament  decreed, 
23  i  July,  1.371,  that  ^ir  Davil  ought  to  reraiin  in  possession  of  Old  Montrose, 
no  satisfactory  documents  for  setting  aside  iiis  rights  having  been  produced  by 
Sir  .John,  and  that  the  King  ought  to  support  him  in  the  defence  of  his  rights 
against  Sir  John. 

At  the  feast  of  St  Luke,  in  1391,  Patrick  Graham,  Lord  of  Kincardine,  in 
Strarhearn,  son  of  the  last-mentioned  Sir  David,  by  an  indenture  between  him 
and  J.ihn  of  Stane,  Provost  of  the  burgh  of  Montrose,  mortified  110  merks 
sterling  money  of  Scotland,  to  be  raised  annually  from  his  lands  of  Old  Mon- 
trose, lor  the  sustentation  of  the  Chapel  of  ^t  Trinity  of  Montrose,  and  of  the 
chaplain  there  celebrating  Divine  service. 

In  14.")  I  the  lands  of  Old  Montrose  were  erected  into  a  barony.  By  a  charter 
granted  by  James  IV.,  under  the  Great  Seal,  3d  March,  1504.  in  favour  of 
^Villiam,  first  Earl  of  Montrose,  Lord  Graham,  tiie  lands  of  ('Id  Montrose  were 
erected  into  a  free  barony  and  earldom,  to  be  called  in  all  time  coming  the 
barony  and  earldom  of  Montrose,  to  be  held  of  the  King  for  rendering  three 
suits  at  three  head  courts  held  yearly  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Forfar,  and  the  ser- 
vices of  ward,  relief,  and  mai-riage. 

On  28th  Mai'ch,  1G27,  James,  fifth  Earl  of  Montrose,  afterwards  the 
celebrated  Marquis,  was  retoured  (No.  1G8)  heir  of  his  father,  John,  foiu'th 
Earl,  in  the  lands,  barony,  and  earldom  of  Old  Montrose,  salmon  fishings 
of  South  Esk,  and  advocation  of  the  Church  of  Mary  tern— A. E.  £20,  N.E. 
£100.  The  young  Earl  was  a  near  neighbour  of  the  Carnegies  of  Kinnaird, 
and  there  he  wooed,  won,  and  wed  the  Lady  Magdalene,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  David,  first  Earl  of  Southesk.  In  acordance  with  the  marriage  con- 
tract, the  Hon'-'i'^-  Magdalene  Carnegie  was  infeft  in  liferent  in  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Old  Montrose. 

The  earldom  of  Old  Montrose  continued  the  property  of  the  Grahams  till 
towards  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  with  the  exception  of  the  period 
they  Avere  under  forfeiture. 

James  Graham,  fifth  Earl  of  Montrose,  was  for  some  time  a  zealous 
Covenanter,  as  wj  Lave  thown.  Vol.  II.,  p.  3  ;  but  having  deserted  his  covenant- 


Chap.  XLTI.J         ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— MAKYTON.  323 

ing  friends  and  espoused  the  cause  of  Charles  I.  in  1644,  his  whole  estates 
■were  forfeited. 

On  the  marriage  of  the  Earl  with  the  Hon^'^-  Magdalene  Carnegie,  he  received 
a  dowiy  of  ii'40,000  uith  her,  and  he  gave  Lady  Magdalene  a  chai-tcr  of  the 
lands  and  barony  of  Old  Montrose,  witii  the  tower,  fortalice,  S:c.,  &c.,  fishings 
on  the  South  Esk,  the  lands  of  Fnllerton,  the  third  part  of  the  hinds  of  Ananie, 
and  the  lands  of  Maryton  in  liferent. 

The  Earl  appears  to  have  had  large  debts.  Acts  were  passed  reserving  the 
rights  of  the  creditors  of  the  pi'oprietors  whose  properties  had  been  forfeited 
to  participate  in  the  proceeds  of  the  forfeited  estates.  The  creditors  of  the 
Earl  made  claims  to  his  estates,  and  after  years  of  delay  and  many  enquiries, 
the  estates  which  had  belonged  to  the  Marquis  were  handed  over  to  William 
Graham  of  Claverhouse  f)r  behoof  of  the  whole  of  his  creditors. 

The  interest  of  the  Marchioness  in  the  Angus  properties  was  p[)eciairy 
reserved  to  her,  and  the  eldest  son  of  the  Marquis  subsequenlly  succeeied  to 
these  properties. 

From  the  original  Deed  of  Gift,  in  favour  of  William  Grahams  of  Claver- 
house, of  the  whole  lands  which  belonging  to  the  Marquis  of  Montrose,  forfeited 
for  high  treasoa,  we  have  taken  the  following  particulars:  — 

The  Deed  is  in  the  shajie  of  a  continuous  roll,  consisting  of  five  sheets  of 
paper,  each  sheet  being  14|-  inches  long  by  12  in  breadth,  the  uj);)!  r  over- 
lapping the  following  about  half  an  inch.  On  this  half  inch  of  the  Icjwer  sheers 
there  is  no  writing,  the  writing  of  the  Deed  being  thus  continuous  from  the 
top  to  the  bottom  of  the  roll. 

The  writing  of  the  deed  is  confined  to  three-fourths  the  width  of  th.e  paper, 
or  9  inches,  a  border  of  3  inches  wide  being  on  the  left  side  of  the  sheet.  The 
total  length  of  the  roll  is  (5  feet  4  inches,  and  the  bottom  of  the  roll  is  attached 
to  a  small  wooden  roller,  round  which  it  is  wonnd. 

The  Deed  sets  forth  that  Fcrsamikill  as  be  the  threttie  third  Act  of  t!ie 
first  session  of  the  laite  trienniel  Parliament  upon  the  twentie  sevent  day  of 
July,  Jaj  VI°-  and  f  )urtie  foar  yeiris  (1 644),  Inittillit  Act  in  fivores  of  vassales, 
creditores  and  caw'e^  of  forfdted  personnes.  The  estates  of  his  said  Parliat. 
fand  and  declairit  that  the  true  creditores  and  caW'^^  of  loi'falted  personnes  sail 
iia  wayes  be  prejudgit  be  the  forfalting  of  the  saidis  personnes  annent  the  [)ay- 
ment  of  the  saidis  creditores  of  thair  heall,  just,  and  true  d^'btis  owing  to 
them,  and  annent  the  saidis  caw''®^  their  relieff  of  thair  just  and  true  ingadge- 
inentis  and  cauw'^^^  under  the  provLioaes  and  reslrictiouej  lueritionit  iu  the 


324  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

said  Act  of  Parliat.,  as  the  samyn  at  length  beires.  And  James  Grahame, 
some  tyme  earle  of  Montrois  being  forfalted  be  the  estaites  of  Parliat.  for  the 
crymes  comittit  be  him,  and  the  landis,  estaites,  guides,  and  geir  ordaineit  to 
be  applyit  for  payment  of  the  publict  debtes  of  this  Kingdome  in  manner 
mentionit  in  the  decreit  sentence  and  doome  of  forfaltur,  deduceit,  and  pro- 
nunciat  againes  him  yeranent  upon  day  of  Jaj  VI°-  and  fourtie 
yeirs,  as  the  samyn  at  length  beires. 

Lykeas,  in  the  month  of  January,  1645,  Creditors,  being  a  petition  given 
in  at  the  instance  of  the  said  cautioners  and  creditors  therein  named  of  the 
said  James  Grahame,  some  tyme  earl  of  Montrose,  desiring  warrant  from  the 
said  estates  to  those  who  had  commission  for  uplifting  the  rents  of  the  said 
late  earl's  estates  for  the  public  use,  to  pay  them  to  the  petitioners,  in  accordance 
with  an  inventory  of  the  debts,  &c.,  given  in  with  the  petition,  in  terms  of  the 
Act  above-mentioned. 

The  supplication  was  referred  to  a  Committee  of  the  Estates  to  inquire 
whether  the  debts  and  obligations  given  in  were  just  and  true,  and  whether 
they  were  contracted  before  the  crimes  for  which  he  had  been  forfeited  were 
committed.  Also  to  get  an  account  of  the  various  estates  which  belonged  to 
the  Earl,  and  ascertain  the  rent  and  value  of  them.  These  inquiries  occupied 
much  time,  and  it  was  ultimately  found  that  the  debts  and  obligations  for 
which  the  parties  sought  relief  were  contracted  before  the  commission  of  the 
crimes,  and  that  the  debts  and  obligations  upon  the  estates,  which  included 
the  liferent  of  Dame  Magdalene  Carnegie,  Countess  of  Montrose,  of  the  estate 
of  Auld  Montrose  and  others,  far  exceeded  the  value  of  the  lands  and  goods 
which  belonged  to  the  said  late  Earl  of  ^lontrose  at  his  forfeiture,  which  were 
not  nearly  enough  to  pay  his  creditors  and  relieve  the  cautioners  of  the  obliga- 
tions under  which  they  had  come  on  his  behalf. 

It  was  therefore  agreed  to  hand  over  the  estates  and  other  assets  which  had 
been  forfeited  to  the  creditors,  and  it  was  agreed  that  they  should  be  desponed 
to  William  Grahame  for  behoof  of  the  whole  just  creditors  and  relief  of  the 
cautioners,  to  be  by  him  realized  and  divided  rateably  among  the  whole  parties 
entitled  to  share  therein.  And  therefore  for  this  purpose  the  Committee  have 
sold,  assigned,  and  desponed,  as  they  hereby  sell,  assign,  and  despone 
to  William  Grahame  of  Claverhouse,  his  heirs  male,  and  assigns  for  themselves 
and  for  the  use  and  behoof,  c&c,  &c.,  the  lands  and  baronies,  &c.,  as  detailed 
in  the  disposition. 

The  lands  and  baronies  so  conveyed  included  the  barony  of  Aberuthven,  and 


Chap.  XLII.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MARYTOK  325 

the  barony  of  Kincardine,  in  Perthshire,  with  mills,  multures,  coramonties, 
tenandries,  service  of  free  tenants,  salmon  fishings  upon  the  water  of  Earn, 
with  right  to  erect  cruves  thereupon,  with  the  castles,  towns,  fortalices,  woods, 
advocation  of  benefices,  &c.,  &c.  Also  the  lands  and  baronies  of  Mugdock  and 
Dundafmure,  in  StirHngshire.  Many  of  the  lands  are  named,  but  it  is  un- 
necessary to  give  them  here. 

The  rest  of  the  properties  conveyed  by  the  Deed  we  give  verbatim  as  in  the 
Deed.  "  The  landis  and  baronie  of  Auld  Montrois,  w'  the  salmon  fischingis 
and  vyres  fischingis  thairof,  on  the  water  of  Southesk.  The  toune  and  landis 
of  Fullartoune.  The  thrie  pairt  landis  of  Annanie.  The  landis  of  Maritoun, 
w*  the  aikers  thairof,  and  salmond  fischingis  of  the  samyn,  upon  the  said  water 
of  Southesk  ;  with  the  tower,  fortalice,  manor  place,  houses,  bygingis,  zairdis, 
orcharddis,  milnes,  wodis,  fischingis,  comientis,  tennendries,  service  of  frie  ten- 
nenties,  pairtis,  pendicles,  and  pertinentis,  q^sumever,  Lyand  w*in  the  Sheriff- 
dome  of  Forfar,  which  were  all  haldin  by  the  saide  laite  carle  of  Montrois, 
and  lately  of  his  matie." 

The  description  of  other  properties  in  Dumbarton,  Perth,  and  Stirling  shires 
follow.  It  is  also  mentioned  that  the  Deed  conveyed  the  teind  sheaves,  and 
other  teinds,  both  parsonages  and  vicarages,  of  all  and  sundry  the  lands  and 
baronies  above-mentioned,  hereby  desponed  as  said  is. 

After  the  whole  of  the  properties  conveyed  are  detailed,  the  Deed  goes  on  to 
say  :  And  that  in  full  payment  and  satisfaction  to  the  said  whole  creditors  and 
cautioners  of  the  said  James  Grahame,  late  Earl  of  Montrose,  not  only  those 
mentioned  in  the  said  Inventory,  but  also  others  (if  any  be)  that  ought  to  have 
payment  and  relief  by  the  said  Acts  of  Parhament,  concluded  in  favour  of  the 
creditors  and  cautioners  of  forfeited  persons,  of  all  just  and  lawful  debts  dae 
to  them  by  the  said  James  Graham,  to  be  divided  proportionally  amongst 
them  according  to  the  amount  realised  for  the  lands,  &c.,  hereby  disponed  and 
assigned  to  the  said  William  Grahame  of  Claverhouse,  in  manner  foresaid  by 
the  said  Act,  and  in  name  and  behoof  of  the  whole  creditors.  He  was  autho- 
rised to  take  possession  of  all  the  properties,  excepting  that  part  thereof  life- 
rented  by  Dame  Magdalene  Carnegie,  and  also  with  it  after  her  decease.  The 
Deed  ends  with  the  clauses  customary  in  such  documents.  No  composition 
was  to  be  charged,  it  having  been  passed  gratis. 

In  witness  whereof  thir  presents  written  by  George  Olyphant,  servitor  to 
Francis  Hay  of  Balhoussie,  writer  to  His  Majesty's  Signet,  are  subscrit  with 
their  hands  the  second  month  and  day  of  February,  Jaj  VP-  and  fourtie  aught 


326  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

yeiris  (1648).     Before  these  witnesses  Go.  S.  Primrose,  Clerk  of  Counsell,  and 
James  Dunlop,  his  servant.     Signed  by 

LOUDOUN,  CUNNINGHAM, 

CASSILIIS,  MORTO:^,  TRAQITAIRE, 

SINCLAIR,  CALANDEK,  A.  FALCONER, 

WEALIAME  OF  CLAVEllHOUSE,  S.  FLETCHER, 

D.  WEDDERBITRNF, 

SMITH,  PORTERFIELD, 

and  other  tliree  names  we  are  doubtful  about. 

S.  PRIMU08K,  Witness. 

JAMES  OLYPHANT,  Witness. 

On  30tli  May,  1G65,  James,  second  ]\Iarqnis,  son  of  the  first  IMarqnis,  was 
served  heir  to  his  father  (Ketour  No.  415)  in  the  land>^,  barony,  and  earldom  of 
Auld  Montrose,  with  the  salmon  fishings  on  the  Southesk,  and  advocation  of 
the  Church  of  Maryton — A.E.  20  raerks,  N.E.  80  merks  ;  united  with  the 
lands  in  Stirling,  Portli,  and  Linlithgow;  in  the  barony  of  Auld  Montrose; 
the  lands  of  Fullerton — A.E.  £3,  N.E  £12;  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of 
Ananie— A.E.  lOs,  N.E.  40s. 

On  24th  June,  1G69,  James,  third  Marquis  of  Montrose,  heir  of  Marquis 
James,  his  father,  was  retoured  (N'o.  440)  in  the  lands,  barony,  and  earldom 
of  Montrose,  with  advocation  of  the  church  and  chapel  of  tlie  same,,  lands  of 
Fullerton,  and  third  part  of  Ananie.  This  Marquis  was  not  long  spared  to 
enjoy  his  estates  and  honours,  as  he  died  in  tlie  flower  of  his  age  in  1G84. 
He  appears  to  have  sold  Old  Montrose  shorly  after  he  was  infelt  in  the  property. 
W^e  have  not  ascertained  the  year  in  which  it  was  sold,  but  it  must  have  been 
sometime  before  IGth  May,  1673.  The  purchaser  was  Hay  of  Balhousie,  and 
he  seems  to  have  died  shortly  after  he  acquired  the  barony,  as  of  that  date 
Francis  Hay  of  Balhousie,  heir  of  Master  George  Hay  of  Balhousie,  his  father, 
was  retoured  (No.  45'.))  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Auld  Montrose,  with  salmon 
fisiiings,  in  warrandice  of  the  lands  of  Peill,  &c. 

On  5th  May,  1675,  Thomas  Hay,  heir  of  Francis  Hay  of  Balhousie,  his 
brother,  was  retoured  (No.  462)  in  the  lands,  &c.,  of  .Auld  Montrose,  fishings, 
&c.,  &c.,  in  warrandice  of  the  land  of  Peill,  in  Perthshire— A  E.  20m.,  N.E. 
80m. 

Old  Montrose  and  the  other  adjoining  properties  are  said  to  have  been  held 
by  the  Hays  in  warrandice  of  other  lands.      They  may  not,  therefore,  have 


Chap,  XLII]         ANGUS  ITT  PAEISHES.— MAEYTON.  327 

been  the  actual  proprietors  of  Old  MoDtrose,  &c.  The  Deed  of  Gift  of  the 
forfeited  estates  of  the  Marquis  of  Montrose  was  made  by  Francis  Hay  of  Bal- 
housie,  a  Writer  to  the  Signet.  He  was  of  the  noble  House  of  Kinnoull,  and 
it  may  have  been  from  his  connection  with  the  gift  that  he  had  an  interest  in 
Old  Montrose. 

The  estate  of  Old  Montrose  was  acquired  by  John,  Earl  of  Middleton.  He 
had  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  dated  6th  JMay,  1668,  to  him  and  his  heirs 
male,  whom  ftuling,  to  his  heirs  and  assignees  whatsoever,  of  the  barony  of 
Auld  Montrose  and  other  lands  in  Angus  which  had  belonged  to  James, 
Marquis  of  Montrose,  and  had  been  disponed  by  him  to  John  Graham  of 
Fin  try. 

The  surname  of  Middleton  was  assumed  from  the  lands  of  Middleton,  in  the 
parish  of  Laurencekirk,  in  the  Mearns.  The  family  can  be  traced  from  the 
time  of  William  the  \Aon  onward.  Gilbert  of  Middleton  was  Sheriff-Depute 
of  the  County  of  Forfar  ii  1516.  The  lands  of  Middleton  and  others  were 
conveyed  by  John  Middleton,  the  son  of  Gilbert,  to  David  Falconer  of 
Halkerton,  in  exchange  for  the  lands  of  Netherseat  of  Halkerton  or 
Kilhill,  and  two -thirds  of  the  lands  of  Bent.  This  exchange  was  confirmed 
by  two  charters  under  the  Great  Seal,  dated  27th  January,  J 539-40. 
The  son  of  John,  of  the  same  name,  sold  the  lands,  cliarter  dated  3d 
November,  1606.  He  was  the  same  day  infefted  in  the  lands  of  Caldhame 
or  Caddame.  John  died  without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 
Eobert,  who  married  Catherine  Strachan  of  Thornton,  and  was  thefather  of  John, 
the  first  Earl  of  Middleton.  Robert  was  murdered,  while  sitting  in  his  chair 
at  the  Castle  of  Caldhame,  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Marquis  of  Montrose  when 
passing  in  one  of  their  rapid  marches  in  1645. 

John  Middleton,  after  serving  a  short  military  campaign  in  France,  retiirned 
to  England,  entered  the  service  of  the  English  Parliament,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  civil  wars  in  1642.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Scotland,  and  received 
a  command  in  General  Lesly's  army.  He  was  present  at  Philiphaugh,  when 
the  Marquis  of  Montrose  was  defeated,  and  for  his  share  in  that  battle  he  re- 
ceived a  gift  of  25,1)00  nierks.  In  March,  1646,  he  attacked  and  took  the 
Castle  of  Kinc.irdine,  which  belonged  to  Montrose.  After  the  surrender  of 
the  small  garrison,  he  ordered  twelve  of  their  number  to  be  shot— the  others 
being  sent  to  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh — and  the  castle  burned.  Soon 
thereafter,  by  his  active  efforts  in  the  north,  Montrose  capitulated,  and  was 
exiled. 


328  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part. XIV. 

Two  years  thereafter  he  had  become  a  leader  among  the  Royalists,  was  taken 
prisoner  at  the  Battle  of  Preston,  and  was  sent  to  Newcastle,  from  which  he 
escaped,  and  soon  thereafter  appeared  in  the  Highlands  at  the  head  of  a  party 
of  Royalists,  who  were  defeated. 

When  Charles  II.  came  to  Scotland  in  1651,  Middleton  joined  the  King, 
was  appointed  commander  of  the  horse  in  the  Royal  army,  distinguished  him- 
self highly  at  the  Battle  of  Worcester,  was  wounded,  taken  prisoner,  and  sent 
to  the  Tower  of  London.  There  he  run  the  risk  of  being  executed  as  a  deserter 
from  the  Parliamentary  army.  He  afterwards  joined  the  King  in  France, 
and  in  1653  he  returned  to  Scotland  to  command  the  Royalists  in  the  High- 
lands. In  1654  he  was  defeated  by  Monk  at  Lochgarry,  but  escaped  and 
joined  the  King  at  Cologne.  Next  year,  1655,  he  was  created  Earl  of  Middle- 
ton,  Lord  Clermont  and  Fettercairn.  He  remained  in  France  until  the 
Restoration.  On  returning  to  Scotland  he  received  the  patent  of  his  earldom, 
which  was  dated  1st  October,  1660. 

He  was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  forces  in  Scotland,  Governor 
of  Edinburgh  Castle,  and  Commissioner  to  the  Scottish  Parliament,  offices 
which  he  filled  with  splendour,  but  with  a  severity  which  made  him  odious  to 
the  people,  and  for  his  bad  character  and  unpopularity  he  was  deprived  of  his 
high  offices,  and  appointed  Governor  of  Tangier,  in  Africa.  This  was  a 
genteel  mode  of  banishment,  and  the  noble  Governor  died  there  in  1673. 

The  Earl  was  twice  married,  first  to  Grissel  Durham,  daughter  of  the  laird 
of  Pitkerro  (she  had  previously  been  married,  first  to  Alexander  Fothringham 
of  Balluderon,  and  next  to  Sir  Gilbert  Ramsay,  fiar  of  Balmain).  She  died  in 
September,  1666.  In  December,  1667,  he  married  Lady  Martha  Carey, 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Monmouth.  By  the  first  marriage  he  had  a  son, 
Charles,  and  two  daughters.  Lady  Grissel  was  married  in  1662  to  William, 
ninth  Earl  of  Morton,  and  died  in  1666  ;  and  Lady  Helen,  in  1662,  to  Patrick, 
Earl  of  Strathmore,  the  marriage  ceremony  having  been  performed  by  Arch- 
bishop Sharp. 

Through  his  many  excesses  he  had  contracted  considerable  debts,  and  his 
various  estates  were  taken  possession  of  by  his  creditors,  but  were  afterwards 
redeemed  by  his  son-in-law,  the  Earl  of  Strathmore.  Notwithstanding  what 
we  have  said  regarding  the  actings  of  the  Earl,  he  had  redeeming  qualities. 
When  Montrose  capitulated,  on  condition  of  leaving  the  country,  some  of  his 
vindictive  enemies  wanted  the  Marquis  delivered  into  their  hands,  but   the 


Chap.  XLII.]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.-  MARYTON.  329 

Earl  resisted  the  many  eflForts  made  to  induce  him  to  depart  from  the  terms. 
When  appointed  to  open  the  Parliament  in  Scotland,  he  expostulated  against 
the  infamous  letter  of  Charles  to  the  Presbyterians,  which  had  been  composed 
by  Archbishop  Sharp,  to  put  them  off  their  guard  as  to  His  Majesty's  design 
of  introducing  Episcopacy  into  Scotland. 

Charles  succeeded  his  father  as  second  Earl  of  Middleton  in  1673.  He  had 
been  member  for  Winchelsea  in  the  Long  Parliament.  He  had  been  bred  at 
the  Court  of  Charles  If.,  and  he  was  for  some  time  Ambassador  at  Vienna. 
On  his  return  home  in  1682,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  principal  Secretaries 
of  State  for  Scotland,  and  two  years  afterwards  an  extraordinary  Lord  ot 
Session.  About  the  same  time  he  was  sworn  a  Privy  Councillor  in  England,  and 
a  month  later  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  which 
office  lie  held  until  the  Pievolution  in  1688. 

He  was  opposed  to  the  violent  measures  of  King  James,  but  he  continued 
firm  to  James'  interests  to  the  last,  and  was  proof  against  all  the  offers  made 
by  King  William.  After  being  frequently  imprisoned  in  England,  he  followed 
James  to  France,  wliere  he  had  the  chief  administration  given  him.  He  was 
outlawed  by  the  Court  of  Justiciary  in  1694,  and  on  the  2d  July,  1695, 
his  estates  and  honours  were  forfeited  by  Act  of  Parliament.  When  in 
England  he  opposed  the  priests  who  were  driving  James  to  his  ruin,  and 
spoke  strongly  against  Popery,  yet,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  upon  the  King's 
death,  he  declared  himself  a  Roman  Catholic.  His  Countess,  daughter  of  the 
Earl  of  Cardigan,  died  at  St  Ger mains  in  1743,  in  the  95th  year  of  her  age. 
His  two  sons,  John,  Lord  Clermont,  and  the  Hon.  Charles,  were  captured  by 
Admiral  Byng  on  the  way  with  French  troops  to  invade  Scotland  in  1708. 
They  were  committed  to  the  Tower,  but  were  soon  released,  and  returned  to 
France.  Lady  Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter,  was  married  to  the  son  of  the 
Earl  of  Perth.  She  had  the  style  of  Duchess  of  Perth,  and  she  died  at  Paris  at 
an  advanced  age,  after  1773.  Lady  Mary  became  the  wife  of  Sir  John  Gififard, 
knight ;  and  Lady  Catherine,  the  youngest  daughter,  married  Michael,  Comte 
de  Rothe,  and  died  in  Paris  in  1763,  aged  78  years. 

The  barony  of  Old  Montrose  had  probably  remained  for  some  time  in  the 
Crown  after  the  forfeiture  of  the  Earl  of  Middleton  in  1 695.  The  next  proprietor 
with  whose  name  we  have  met  is  Colonel  the  Hon.  Charles  Straton,  of  the 
Lauriston  family.  He  was  in  possession  before  172J ,  but  we  do  not  know  how 
long,  nor  whether  he  acquired  it  from  the  Crown  direct,  or  if  there  was  an  inter- 
mediate proprietor.  Colonel  Straton  was  succeeded  in  Old  Montrose  by  his  son, 
2  T 


330  ANGUS  OPv  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XLV. 

John,  who  in  1728  had  married  Janet,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Straton,  apothe- 
cary in  Montrose.     John  Straton  had  parted  with  the  property  before  1765. 

In  1765  John  Mill,  a  son  of  Provost  Mill  of  Balwyllo,  was  proprietor  of  Old 
Montrose.  At  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1771,  he  left  a  deed  of  mortifica- 
tion, leaving  two  hundred  pounds  sterling  to  the  poor  of  the  parish  of  Maryton, 
"  in  which  my  house  of  Old  Montrose  is  situate."  The  deed  was  written  at 
Hampstead,  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  the  30th  May,  1767.  By  the  deed 
he  also  left  one  thousand  pounds  sterling  to  the  town  and  parish  of  Montrose, 
for  the  poor  therein.  Two  of  his  executors  were  nephews,  one  of  whom,  James 
ISIill,  succeeded  to  the  estate  of  Old  Montrose.  He  was  also  laird  of  Noranside, 
in  the  parish  of  Fearn.  He  sold  the  estate  of  Old  Montrose  in  1789  to  Sir 
James  Stirling,  who  was  Lord  Provost  of  Edinburgh.  He  did  not  retain  the 
estate  much  beyond  one  year,  as  Sir  David  Carnegie  of  Southesk,  the  fourth 
baronet,  acquired  the  property  in  1789  from  Sir  James  Stirling.  He  acquired 
at  same  time  the  lands  of  Maryton,  Fullerton,  and  Ananie,  for  all  of  which  Sir 
David  paid  £32,000. 

The  mansion  house  of  Old  Montrose  was,  as  we  have  shown,  one  of  the 
residences  of  the  noble  family  of  the  Grahams,  and  it  is  believed  that  in  it  the 
great  Marquis  of  Montrose  was  born. 

The  churchyard  of  Maryton  was  levelled  and  the  tombstones  placed  in  an 
orderly  manner  in  1872.  Some  interesting  stones  which  had  long  been  hid 
were  turned  up.  On  one  of  these  was  a  shield,  with  the  arms  of  Wood 
(De  Bosco),  an  oak  tree  growing  out  of  a  mount,  between  those  of  TuUoch  of 
Bonnyton,  two  cross  crosslets.  The  stone  was  found  on  the  site  of  the 
old  church,  in  which  the  family  aisle  was.  Jt  is  probably  the  tombstone  of 
William  Wood,  who  married  Dorothy  Tulloch,  one  of  the  co-heiresses  of  Bon- 
nyton,  a  short  time  before  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and  with  her 
obtained  her  portion  of  the  estate,  the  charter  of  which  was  confirmed  by  James 
IV.,  as  mentioned  above. 

On  another  stone,  partly  mutilated,  is 

And  of  the  aiges  of 
A  shield  upon  the  stone,  charged  with  a  blacksmith's  crown  and  hammer,,  and 
the  initials  W.  S.,  is  here  carved,  below  which  is  the  following  inscription, 
divided  into  eight  lines  : — 

^^^   Wo   BE   TO   HIM   YAT   PVTIS   TOO   ANT  WDER  WS  WHA  DESECIT  IN 

NOA  MVCLX  XXIV   TN   YAR. 


Chap.  XLIL  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MAR YTON.  331 

It  appears  from  this  inscription  tliat  the  highly  indecent  and  most  improper 
practice  of  removing  from  the  graveyard  old  tombstones  and  applying  them  to 
utilitarian  purposes,  as  is  yet  frequently  done  in  some  parishes,  is  no  new  piece 
of  sacrilege.  The  author  of  the  inscription  had  no  doubt  seen  old  tombstones  so 
misapplied,  or  he  would  not  have  inscribed  this  malediction.  Other  two  stones 
appear  to  have  belonged  to  cadets  of  the  Melvilles  of  Baldovie  and  Dysart. 

The  Earl  of  Southesk  is  proprietor  of  about  three-fourths  of  the  parish,  in- 
cluding the  estate  of  Montrose.  In  a  letter  written  by  Sir  David  Carnegie  to 
George  Chalmers,  Esq.,  OfSce  of  Trade,  London,  author  of  "  Caledonia/'  in 
reply  to  some  queries,  he  says  :— Old  Montrose,  which  formerly  was  a  seat  of 
the  Duke  of  Montrose's  family,  now  belongs  to  me  by  a  late  purchase  only,  so 
that  I  have  no  old  papers  belonging  to  it.  It  was  originally  a  small  property. 
Part  of  the  house  seems  pretty  old,  and  he  thought  it  the  only  house  which 
had  ever  been  built  upon  the  estate.  The  house  is  situated  in  swampy  oround, 
rather  smooth  and  even  on  the  surface.  The  Basin  comes  up  to  within  a  few 
hundred  yards  of  Old  Montrose,  and  seems  to  have  been  gaining  ground  there 
for  a  long  time,  &c.,  &c.  The  letter  is  dated  Kinnaird,  28th  Nov.,  1799,  and  Sir 
David  mentions  that  they  were  in  a  state  of  great  anxiety  about  the  condition 
of  the  crops,  and  he  foresaw  great  distress  and  scarcity  against  next  summer. 

The  old  house  of  Old  Montrose,  in  which  the  great  Marquis  of  Montrose  is 
supposed  to  have  been  born,  was  a  plain,  white-washed  building.  Becoming 
ruinous,  it  was  mostly  pulled  down  by  the  father  of  the  present  Earl  when  the 
present  farmhouse  was  built,  about  forty  years  ago.  A  portion  of  the  old  house 
exists  as  part  of  the  offices  attached  to  the  stables,  which  stand  close  by  the 
public  road,  near  the  north  entry  to  the  house.  Two  old  gate  posts  are  at  this 
entrance. 

Considerable  advances  have  been  made  by  the  Basin  since  the  date  of  the 
letter.  But  the  South  Esk  having  frequently  changed  its  course,  the  embank- 
ments raised  to  confine  it  have  prevented  further  loss  in  that  quarter. 
The  present  house  of  Old  Montrose  stands  on  ground  elevated  considerably 
above  the  Basin  on  the  east  and  the  Carse  on  the  west,  and  the  land  having 
been  thoroughly  drained  is  now  dry  and  healthy,  the  swamp  having  disap- 
peared. 

The  word  Montrose  probably  means  moine=moss,  swamp,  marsh,  bog,  as 
in  Bal-na-moon  ;  ros  — a  point  or  promontory. 

Poio  denotes  not  a  stream  in  general,  but  a  slow  moving  brook  in  flat  lands 


332  AiSTGIiS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

or  through  deep,  heavy  lands.  Pow=pool.  Pow  Bridge  was  built  in  1617 
"  for  leading  His  Majesty's  provisions"  while  he  was  the  guest  of  Lord  Carnegie 
at  Kinnaird  Castle.  The  Pow  is  for  some  distance  the  boundary  between  the 
parishes  of  Farnell  and  Mary  ton. 

There  is  a  small  portion  of  the  estate  of  Dunninald  in  a  feu  from  Dysart,  but 
the  greater  part  of  that  fine  property  is  in  the  parish  of  Craig.  A  portion  of  the 
house  of  Nether  Dysart  is  very  old,  and  is  understood  to  have  been  part  of  the 
mansion  in  the  time  of  the  Melvilles,  whose  coat  of  arms  is  inscribed  upon  it. 

The  Dens  of  Bonnyton  and  FuUerton  are  pretty  spots,  and  there  are  other 
bits  of  fine  scenery,  but  there  is  nothing  particularly  striking  in  the  parish, 
and  there  is  no  resident  proprietor  in  it,  but  the  farmhouses  and  steadings  are 
comfortable  and  commodious. 

In  the  chapter  on  the  adjoining  parish  of  Farnell  (Vol.  111.,  p.  240)  we  gave 
the  "  Pedigree  of  James,  sixth  Earl  of  Southesk,"  but  omitted  the  fourth 
name  in  the  descent.  It  is  as  follows  : — "  IV. — John  de  Ballinhard,  afterwards 
de  Carnegie,  c,  1340-1375."  In  Vol.  L,  p.  363,  there  is  an  error  which 
we  think  it  best  to  notice  here.  In  line  5th  from  bottom,  for  "  He  had 
studied  law,"  read  "  He  died  in  1598,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 
David." 

In  the  paragraph  preceding  the  account  of  "  The  Polled  Cattle  of  Angus  " 
(Vol.  III.,  p.  256)  we  stated  that  we  had  inserted  it  in  the  chapter  on  Farnell 
because  of  the  long  connection  of  that  parish  with  Angus  Doddies,  but  omitted 
to  state  that  this  connection  was  chiefly  owing  to  the  great  interest  which  the 
Earl  of  Southesk  and  his  predecessors  took  in  this,  his  favourite  breed.  Early  in 
this  century  there  was  a  known  herd  of  pure  polled  stock,  which,  being  kept 
up  and  developed  with  great  care  by  the  present  Earl,  brought  him  many 
honours  in  the  showyard,  and  made  his  name  famous  as  a  breeder.  In  1865 
the  rinderpest  carried  off  nearly  the  entire  herd.  One  of  the  best  strains  of 
the  Earl's  herd  survived,  through  the  purchase,  in  1861,  of  the  famous  Kin- 
naird bred  "  Erica"  by  Sir  George  i\Iacpherson  Grant.  From  her  descendants, 
from  the  "  Sybils,"  the  "  Fyvie  Flowers,"  and  from  other  choice  strains,  includ- 
ing one  of  the  oldest  Kinnaird  families,  the  "  Fannys  of  Kinnaird,"  his  Lordship 
has,  during  the  last  two  years,  gathered  together  a  herd  of  nearly  fifty  pure 
polled  cattle. 


Chap.  XLIII.]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— METGLE.  333 


Chap.  XLIII.— MEIGLE. 

As  some  of  the  lands  in  the  parish  of  Meigle  are  owned  by  proprietors  of 
lands  in  Angus,  we  propose  to  give  some  short  notices  of  them  and  of  other 
matters  relating  to  Meigle,  though  not  within  this  county. 

The  Church  of  Miggil  (Meigle),  its  chapel,  the  Kirktown,  and  the  rents  of 
certain  lands  in  the  neighbourhood,  were  given  to  tiie  Priory  of  St  Andrews 
by  Simon  of  Meighel,  lord  of  the  district,  about  1177-88.  The  church  was 
dedicated  to  S.  Peter,  and  the  chapel  to  the  Virgin  Mary.  The  chapel  stood 
about  a  mile  to  the  west  of  the  Church  of  Meigle,  and  is  now  the  burial  place 
of  the  family  of  Kinloch.  The  church  and  the  chapel  were  rated  at  two  merks 
in  1275  (Theiner). 

The  old  church  of  Meigle  was  cruciform  in  shape.  It  may  have  been  built 
about  the  beginning  of  the  17th  century,  and  several  additions  to,  and  altera- 
tions upon,  it  had  been  made.  It  retained  two  of  the  aisles  of  a  previous 
church.  On  Sabbath  morning,  28th  March,  1869,  it  was  accidentally  burned 
down  by  the  overheating  of  the  warming  apparatus.  A  handsome  new  church 
has  been  erected  upon  the  site  of  the  old  church,  in  the  centre  of  the  grave- 
yard. 

The  Chapel  of  Meigle,  which  was  early  gifted  to  tlie  Prior  and  Canons  of 
St  Andrews,  is  now  called  Kinloch  Chapel.  The  present  building,  which  is 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kinloch,  stands  in  an  enclosed  piece  of  ground  surrounded 
with  beautiful  shrubbery.  It  is  in  the  Eomanesque  style  of  architecture,  with 
a  square  tower  at  the  west  end.  It  is  a  large,  handsome  structure,  and  the 
interior  is  chastely  arranged.  It  is  used  as  a  mortuary  chapel,  and  contains 
the  bodies  of  George  Kinloch,  M.P,,  the  late  Sir  George  Kinloch,  Bart,,  and 
other  members  of  the  Kinloch  family. 

The  Church  and  lands  of  Meigle  belonged  to  the  See  of  Dunkeld  prior  to 
the  Eeformation.  Belmont,  formerly  called  Kirkhill,  was  a  sort  of  grange  at 
which  the  Bishops  of  Dunkeld  frequently  resided,  and  it  was  then  church  landp. 
Two  of  the  bishops  were  buried  in  the  north  aisle  of  the  old  Church  of  Meigle, 
having  probably  died  at  Kirkhill  while  residing  there. 

In  1574  David  Ramsay  was  minister  of  Meigle,  Alyth,  Gleuisla,  and 
Ruihven,  with  a  stipend  of  £120  Scots  and  the  kirk  lands,  Thomas  Irwing, 
afterwards  Duncane  Murdo,  was  reidare  at  Meigle,  with  a  salary  of  £1G  and 
Kirk  lands. 


334  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Near  to  the  market  stance  there  is  a  comfortable  Free  Church  and  manse. 
At  the  junction  of  the  Alyth  Koad  with  the  highway  through  Strathmore  there 
is  a  neat  Episcopal  Church,  S.  Margaret's.  The  Knights  Templars  had  con- 
nections with  Meigle.  In  1858  some  sculptured  stones  were  discovered  in  an 
old  corn  mill  kiU  at  Temple  Ha'. 

Even  half  a  century  after  the  Reformation  those  ministering  in  the  Church 
of  Meigle  appear  to  have  retained  some  of  the  Popish  practices,  if  we  may 
credit  an  account,  given  in  Rev.  Dr  Marshall's  Historic  Scenes  in  Perthshire, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  : — 

"November  1st,  1605. 
Rev'^-  J.  Maguire  to  J.  Jones,  Joiner. 

For  solidly  repairing  St  Joseph,    ..... 
Cleaning  and  repairing  Holy  Ghost,    .... 
Repairing  V.M.  behind  and  before,  and  making  her  a  New  Child, 
For  making  a  nose  to  the  Devil,  and  putting  a  horn  on  his  Head, 
and  glueing  a  piece  to  his  Tail,  .... 

0  12  10 
Settled,  J.  Jones." . 

This  account  appears  to  be  apocryphal.  Popery  was  not  then  allowed  to  be 
practised,  and  no  Episcopalians,  however  ritualistic  in  their  forms  and  cere- 
monies, have  such  images  in  their  churches.  If  it  is  a  real  account,  the  work 
must  have  been  done  for  some  one  of  the  old  religion  who  had  secretly  set  up 
a  private  chapel  in  his  own  house,  and  got  an  Irish  priest  to  minister  in  it, 
HJaguire  being  an  Irish  surname.  There  were  several  perverts  about  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  among  whom  were  Sir  Walter  Lindsay 
of  Balgavies,  and  the  laird  of  Craig,  whose  castles  King  James  VI.  ordered  to 
be  razed  for  their  Popish  acts  and  other  evil  deeds  (Vol.  HI.,  p.  358-9). 

Some  of  the  ministers  of  Meigle  took  a  leading  part  in  the  business  of  the 
reformed  church  in  the  reign  of  King  James  VI.  and  subsequently.  James 
Nicholson  was  translated  Irom  Cortachy  to  INIeigie  in  1583.  He  was  a 
time-serving  man,  having  tirst  taken  part  with  the  Presbyterian  or  popular 
party,  which  he  afterwards  deserted,  and  joined  the  court  party,  who  wished 
to  stifle  the  independence  of  the  Church  and  establish  a  form  of  Episcopacy 
instead.  Bruce  of  Edinburgh  thought  him  one  of  the  King's  most  servile  and 
unscrupulous  tools.       In  1G02  he   was  appointed  collegiate  minister  in  the 


£. 

s. 

D. 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

6 

0 

5 

G 

0 

6 

6 

Chap.  XLIIL]  ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MEl  GLE.  335 

King's  house,  the  while  retaining  Meigle.  In  1606  he  was  made  perpetual 
moderator  of  the  presbytery,  and  the  members  were  ordered  by  the  King  to 
receive  him  as  such  on  the  pain  of  deposition.  King  James  purchased  the 
diocese  of  Dunkeld  for  him  from  the  incumbent,  and  in  1607  he  was  made 
Bishop  of  Dunkeld.  He  was  a  member  of  fifteen  out  of  tw^enty-one  General 
Assemblies  held  during  his  time,  and  of  two  of  these  he  was  moderator.  He 
died  on  17th  August,  1607. 

William  Lindsay,  Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  had  the  benefice  of  Meigle  in  1677, 
in  commendam,  and  he  was  buried  in  the  church  in  1679.  John  Hamilton, 
Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  was  deprived  by  the  Privy  Council  for  his  Jacobitism 
in  1689,  he  having  refused  to  read  the  Proclamation  of  the  Estates,  prayed 
for  King  James,  and  that  God  would  give  him  the  necks  of  his  enemies, 
instead  of  for  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  ;  and  liarboured  Viscount 
Dundee.  He  also  held  the  benefice  of  Meigle  along  with  the  Bishopric  of 
Dunkeld. 

The  ecclesiastical  lands  of  Kirkhill  may  have  been  acquired  from  the  See  of 
Dunkeld  by  the  Fullertons  of  that  ilk  towards  the  end  of  the  16th  century. 
They  formed  part  of  the  property  owned  by  Sir  William,  who  died  in  1618. 
The  Blairs  of  Balgillo,  in  Tannadice,  and  after  them  the  Kairns  of  Dunsinane 
appear  to  have  obtained  the  lands  of  Kirkhill. 

On  7th  May,  1642,  Sir  William  Blair  of  Balgillo,  knight,  heir  of  Sir 
William  Elair  of  Balgillo,  kt.,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  505,  Perth)  in  the 
lands  of  Balmacrone  ;  part  of  the  lands  of  Halyards  called  Libertis  Cruik — 
A.E.  2Gs,  N.E.  ^4  ;  ecclesiastical  lands  of  Kirkhill  of  Meigle,  in  the  barony 
of  Meigle — E.  £8,  &c.,  and  13s  4d  augmentation.  On  30th  January,  16S5, 
Thomas  Nairn  of  Kirkhill,  heir  of  his  father,  William  Nairn  of  Kirkhill,  was 
retoured  (Perth,  No.  935)  in  the  lands  of  Balmacrone. 

The  Nairns  sold  theai  to  Sir  George  Mackenzie  of  Rosehaugh,  Lord 
Advocate  to  Charles  11.  and  to  James  VI.  He  sold  Bosehaugh  and  bought 
Kirkhill.  Sir  George  perpetrated  monstrous  cruelties  against  the  Covenanters  ; 
and,  to  accomplish  his  purpose,  he  perverted  law  and  justice,  outraged  decency, 
browbeat  juries,  and  threatened  that  he  would  bring  them  to  trial  for  not  de- 
ciding according  to  the  law  as  laid  down  by  him  if  they  did  not  return  the 
verdict  he  desired.  For  these,  and  many  deceptions  he  practised  upon  the  poor 
prisoners,  he  is  branded  in  Scottish  history  as  the  •'  Bloody  Mackenzie." 

The  Hon''^''-  James  Mackenzie,  Lord   Privy  Seal,  acc[uired  the  estate  of 


336  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Kirkhill  through  the  marriage  of  the  first  Earl  of  Bute  with  Agnes,  eldest 
daughter  of  Sir  George  Mackenzie  of  Eosehaugh.  We  have  related  (Supra, 
p.  16-17),  the  curious  manner  in  which  this  marriage  was  brought  about.  The 
fortunate  bridegroom  proved  himself  worthy  of  his  bride.  The  ruse  he  adopted 
to  obtain  her  was  ingenious  and  successful.  The  Lord  Privy  Seal  succeeded 
to  Kirkhill,  Keillor,  and  other  lands  in  the  district  after  the  middle  of  last 
century.  He  built  a  fine  mansion  on  Kirkhill,  called  it  Belmont  Castle,  and 
called  the  estate  by  the  name  of  Belmont,  which  it  continues  to  be  called,  and 
Kirkhill  is  all  but  forgotten.  The  castle  is  in  the  middle  of  a  spacious  park, 
around  which  are  plantations  of  well-grown  trees,  some  of  them  being  very 
large. 

The  castle  is  a  large,  quadrangular  building,  without  much  architectural 
adornment,  but  with  good  accommodation  within.  It  is  whitewashed,  which 
contrasts  finely  with  the  foliage  of  the  trees  and  shrubbery.  Around  the 
castle  there  is  a  large  open  space,  with  lawn,  parterres  of  flowers,  &c.,  and  there 
are  carriage  drives  from  different  directions  to  the  castle. 

In  a  court  behind  the  main  building  of  the  castle  a  portion  of  a  tower  of  the 
ancient  castle  of  the  Bishops  of  Dunkeld  is  still  to  be  seen.  Fully  half  a  century 
ago  a  beech  tree  not  far  from  the  castle  was  seventy-four  feet  high,  and  fully 
thirteen  feet  in  circumference  at  three  feet  above  the  ground.  If  still  standing 
it  must  be  much  larger  now. 

The  lands  of  Belmont  and  the  others  in  the  district  which  belonged  to  the 
Lord  Privy  Seal  descended  to  the  noble  family  of  Wortley,  and  the  Earl  of 
Wharncliife  is  the  present  proprietor  of  these  extensive  properties. 

The  Lord  Privy  Seal  was  a  man  of  a  different  stamp  from  Sir  George,  the 
Lord  Advocate,  of  Rosehaugh.  He  did  justly,  and  tempered  justice  with 
mercy,  and  was  generally  much  esteemed  and  respected.  He  resided  frequently 
at  Belmont,  and  devoted  much  time  to  literary  and  scientific  pursuits, 
especially  astronomy.  The  better  to  enable  him  to  follow  out  his  astronomical 
studies,  he  built  the  observatory  on  the  summit  of  the  Hill  of  Kinpurnie,  the 
roofless  walls  of  which  still  remain.  The  observatory  commanded  views  in  all 
directions,  and  no  better  site  for  such  an  erection  could  have  been  chosen. 

The  Lord  Privy  Seal  also  erected  on  the  Sidlaw  range  a  small  stone  column 
having  a  narrow  opening  through  it,  so  placed  that  from  one  of  the  windows  of 
Belmont  Castle  the  sun  can  be  seen  through  the  opening  or  eye  at  noon  daily. 
It  is  called  the  meridian  column,  as  it  shows  the  meridian  from  the  castle.  The 
column  is  still  standing,  and  is  seen  from  various  parts  of  the  Vale  of  Strath- 


Chap.  XLIII.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.-^MEIGLE.  337 

more,  but  from  there  it  is  only  a  plain  column,  revealing  nothing  and  objectless. 
It  is  called  in  the  Strath  "  Privy's  Prap," 

He  and  Dr  Playfair,  minister  at  Newtyle,  then  at  Meigle,  and  afterwards 
Principal  of  the  University  of  St  Andrews,  spent  many  evenings  together 
holding  converse  on  their  favourite  studies.  The  Principal  was  a  native  of  Ben- 
dochy.  He  married  a  sister  of  Dr  Lyon  of  Glamis.  He  was  the  author  of 
chronological  and  geographical  works.  He  had  a  numerous  family,  among 
whom  was  L*--Col.  Sir  Hew-Lyon  Playfair,  who  was  Provost  of  St  Andrews 
for  many  years  and  did  much  to  improve  the  ancient  city.  Another  was 
George,  Inspector-General  of  Hospitals,  Bengal,  father  of  Lyon  Playfair,  C.B., 
M.P.,  and  formerly  Chairman  of  Committees  of  the  House  of  Commons,  &c. 

The  Rev^-  Dr  James  Playfair,  who  was  also  the  writer  of  the  old  Statistical 
Account  of  this  parish,  says  that  in  1745  the  state  of  the  country  was  rude 
beyond  conception.  The  most  fertile  tracts  were  waste,  or  indifferently  cul- 
tivated, and  the  bulk  of  the  inhabitants  were  uncivilised.  The  common  people, 
clothed  in  the  coarsest  garb,  and  starving  on  the  meanest  fare,  lived  in 
despicable  huts  with  their  cattle. 

There  was  then  no  ground  fallowed  ;  no  pease,  grass,  turnips,  or  potatoes  were 
raised  ;  no  cattle  fattened,  and  little  grain  exported.  The  inactivity  and  in- 
dolence of  the  tenants  were  astonishing.  After  seed  time  the  only  employment 
of  a  farmer  and  his  servants  was  weeding  his  cornfields,  digging  and  carting 
home  peats  and  turf  for  winter  fuel. 

To  emancipate  the  people  from  such  barbarism  and  rouse  a  spirit  of  industry, 
a  gentleman  of  public  spirit  and  enlightened  and  liberal  mind  formed  plans  of 
improvement.  He  enclosed  farms  with  fences,  banished  sheep  from  infield 
grounds,  which  it  had  been  the  practice  to  keep  on  the  fields  for  seven  months 
of  the  year,  combated  the  prejudices  of  his  tenants,  furnished  them  with  marl, 
distributed  premiums,  and  rewarded  exertion.  The  good  effect  of  these 
measures  soon  appeared,  and  other  proprietors  followed  his  example. 

In  a  few  years  the  tenant,  as  if  awakened  out  of  a  profound  slumber,  looked 
around  and  saw  his  fields  clothed  with  rich  crops, his  cattle  fattening  in  luxuriant 
pastures,  his  family  decked  in  gay  attire,  his  table  loaded  with  solid  fare,  and 
wondered  at  his  former  ignorance  and  stupidity.  The  landlord  rejoiced  in 
the  success  of  his  scheme,  and  shared  in  the  honours  and  profits  of  this  new 
creation.  All  classes — tradesmen,  mechanics,  merchants,  and  manufacturers 
— shared  in  the  golden  harvest,  and  rejoiced  in  the  wondrous  change  from 
poverty  and  squalor  to  wealth  and  comfort. 
2u 


33S  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

King  Robert  Bruce  gave  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  FouUertoun  to  Galfrido 
de  FouUerton.  He  was  the  King's  fowler,  and  the  name  of  his  lands  and  his 
own  surname  were  taken  from  his  office. 

Robert  of  Fowlarton  is  mentioned  in  1446.  His  mother  was  Margaret  ot 
Ogilvy.  David  of  FuUerton  is  a  witness  on  20th  March,  1446,  and  William 
and  David  on  23d  March  same  year.  On  16th  February,  1454,  Alexander 
of  Fullarton  got  a  grant  of  the  Hermitage  of  Kilgarie.  The  three  FuUartons 
of  1446  may  have  been  brothers,  or  a  father  and  his  two  sons.  William 
Fullarton  of  that  ilk  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  James  Blair  of  Ardblair 
about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  Fullertons  of  that  ilk,  in  the  parish  of  Maryton,  resigned  their  lands 
there  in  1447,  and  purchased  lands  in  this  parish,  which  they  called  by  their  own 
name,  and  their  designation  in  Meigle  continued  to  be  the  same  as  it  had  been 
in  their  old  home,  "  Fullerton  of  that  ilk."  We  cannot  do  more  than  give  the 
names  of  two  or  three  of  the  lairds  and  the  lands  they  owned  in  the  end  of  the 
16th  and  part  of  the  17th  centuries. 

Sir  William  Fullerton  of  Fullerton,  knight,  possessed  the  under-mentioned 
lands  in  the  16th  century,  and  was  succeeded  in  them  by  his  grandson,  William 
Fullerton  of  that  ilk,  on  23d  June,  1618  (Perth  retour.  No.  258),  viz. :— The 
dominical  lands  or  mains  of  Megill,  with  Marsh  of  Megill,  called  the  Corslett 
or  Bogcroft  and  Meadow,  with  privilege  in  the  commonty  of  QuhythilHs 
(WhitehiUs),  in  the  barony  of  Megill,  mill  of  Megill,  town  and  lands  of 
Halzairdis,  in  the  barony  of  Ballindoch,  united  in  the  barony  of  Fullerton  — 
A.E.  £6  10s,  N.E.  £26 ;  ecclesiastical  lands  of  Ku-khill  of  Megill— A,E.  £8, 
&c.  ;  land  and  town  of  Balmachrone,  in  the  barony  of  Megill — A.E.  20s,  N.E. 
£4: ;  lands  and  town  of  Caldliame,  with  teinds,  in  the  barony  of  Inverqueich — 
A.E.  6s  8d;  N.E.  2m.  On  5th  August,  1628,  William,  heir  of  William 
Fullerton  of  that  ilk,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No,  361)  in  the  Mains  of  Megill, 
Bogcroft,  &c.— N.E.  £26.  On  16th  October,  1668,  W'"-  Fullerton  of  that  ilk, 
heir  of  Agnes  Fullerton,  his  aunt,  was  retoured  (No.  784)  in  the  lands  of 
Meigle,  Mains  of  same,  Brewlands,  Brewseat,  moss,  common,  mill  of  Meigle, 
and  town  and  lands  of  Halzeards — N.E.  £26. 

William  Fullerton  of  Fullerton  married  Hon.  Margaret,  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander, second  Lord  Spynie,  circa  1620-30.  They  had  William  Fullerton  of 
Fullerton.  He  married  Susanna  Fullerton,  and  they  had  John  Fullerton  of 
Fullerton.  He  married  Margaret  Carnegie,  and  by  her  he  had  William  Fuller- 
ton  of  Fullerton,  an  only  son.     He  married  Susanna  Ogilvy,  and  their  eldest 


Chap.  XLIII.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MEIGLE.  339 

son  was  William  Fullerton  of  Glenqueich,  who,  in  1784,  claimed  tlie  title  of 
Lord  Spynie,  without  success.  The  family  of  Fullerton  of  that  ilk  is  now  re- 
presented by  Henry  Alexander  Fullerton  Lindsay  Carnegie  of  Boysack  and 
Kinblethmont,  in  the  parish  of  Inverkeilor.  The  continuation  of  the  family 
history  of  the  Fullertons  will  be  found  in  the  account  of  that  parish. 

In  the  16th  century  the  Fullertons  of  that  ilk  in  Meigle  owned  Ballndoch, 
Hallyards,  and  Belmont,  and  other  lands ;  but  the  family  appear  to  have 
declined  in  the  first  half  of  the  17th  century,  and  they  may  have  left  the  dis- 
trict in  the  latter  half  of  that  century.  Their  mansion  is  supposed  to  have 
stood  at  a  short  distance  to  the  south  of  the  farmhouse  of  Fullerton,  but  it  was 
removed  long  ago,  and  the  stones  were  used  in  other  buildings.  Three  stones 
with  carvings  on  them  are  built  into  the  farm  offices  at  Myreside.  One  of 
them  bears  the  following  inscription,  the  initials  being  in  monogram  : — 

YlS  .  HOVS  .  IS  .  BYLD  .  BE  .  ELESOBETH  .  BETOVN. 

W.  F.  :  E.  B. 
L.  FVLLERTONN. 
An  adjoining  slab,  initialed  W.  F.,  is  charged  quarterly;  1,  4,  three 
otters'  heads  erased  ;  2,  3,  three  stars  on  a  fess.  On  another  stone  are 
the  initials  D.  M.  E.,  and  a  shield  charged  with  the  cross-croslets  of  the 
Erskines.  The  initials  above  are  those  of  William  Fullerton  and  Dame  Mar- 
garet Erskine. 

The  surname  of  Kinloch  was  assumed  by  the  proprietor  of  the  barony  of 
Kinloch,  in  Fife,  which  had  its  name  from  being  situate  at  the  head  of  Eossie 
Loch,  the  word  kean  or  kin  in  Gaelic  signifying  head,  heuce  Kinloch.  That 
the  family  settled  in -Fife  at  an  early  period  is  known  by  charters  of  lands 
which  they  owned.  One  of  these,  granted  to  John  de  Kinloch,  is  a  charter 
without  date,  confirmed  by  William  the  Lion ;  another  by  Eoger  de  Quincy, 
Constable  of  Scotland,  to  John  de  Kinloch,  son  of  the  former  John,  of  certain 
lands.  It  also  is  without  date,  but  Roger  flourished  and  held  much  land  in 
Fife,  including  Leuchars,  between  1200  and  1232. 

H.  of  C.  of  S.,  481  and  535,  chapter  29.— By  Elen  la  Zuclie  to  John  de 
Kyndelouch,  for  his  homage  and  service,  of  the  whole  town  of  J^leikle  Croyn, 
with  the  lands,  rents,  and  whole  pertinents  thereof;  which  town  belonged 
formerly  to  William  Strangessone,  and  was  resigned  by  him  unto  the  granter's 
hands  on  St  Matthew's  Eve  (23d  Feby.),  1273.  To  be  held  by  the  said  John 
and  his  heirs  from  the  said  Elen  and  her  heirs,  as  freely  as  the  said  William 


340  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

held  the  same  from  Roger  of  Quency,  Earl  of  Rinton,  and  Constable  of  Scot- 
land, the  granter's  father,  for  the  services  used  and  wont  (c.  1273). 

The  immediate  progenitor  of  the  Kinlochs  of  Angus  and  Perthshire  was 
George  Kinloch  of  that  ilk,  chief  of  the  race,  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  James 
lY.  and  V,,  and  had  several  sons.  His  son  and  heir,  Sir  Alexander  Kinloch 
of  that  ilk,  sold  the  estate  of  Kinloch  to  Balfour  of  Balgarry,  and  was  the  last 
of  the  family  designed  of  that  ilk. 

David,  second  son  of  George  Kinloch,  and  brother  of  Sir  Alexander  of  that 
ilk,  was  a  seaman  at  Dundee,  where  he  acquired  some  property,  and  died  in 
the  end  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  leaving  issue,  David,  his  successor,  born 
in  1560.  He  was  a  physician,  and  travelled  much  in  Europe.  When  in 
Spain  he  was  for  some  time  confined  in  the  Inquisition.  The  Inquisitor- 
General  of  the  time  had  some  malady  which  baffled  the  skill  of  his  own 
physicians,  and  they  gave  over  the  case  as  hopeless.  David  Kinloch  having 
been  consulted,  performed  an  extraordinary  cure  upon  the  patient,  and  was 
liberated.  He  returned  home,  acquired  wealth,  and  purchased  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Aberbothrie,  which  was  confirmed  by  charter  under  the  Great  Seal 
by  James  VI.,  dated  1616. 

Balmyle  was  one  of  the  possessions  of  the  Abbey  of  Cupar.  After  the 
abolition  of  monastic  buildings  the  lands  appear  to  have  been  acquired  by  the 
Blairs  of  Balthayock.  Alexander  Blair  of  Balthayock  succeeded  his  father  in 
Balmyle  in  1568,  and  got  a  charter  of  the  property  under  the  Great  Seal,  31st 
January,  1574.  The  family  retained  possession  for  a  long  period.  John 
Blair  of  Balthayock  got  a  charter  of  Nether  Balmyle,  16th  July,  1668.  David 
Kinloch  purchased  Balmyle  in  1616,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  property  to 
Kinloch,  by  which  name  it  has  since  been  known.  It  has  been  the  chief  seat 
of  the  family  ever  since,  and  from  it  they  take  their  title.  The  baron  was  a 
man  of  intelligence  and  energy,  and  well-studied  in  his  profession.  He  married 
Grisel,  daughter  of  Hay  of  Gourdie,  descended  from  the  noble  family  of  Errol, 
by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter — James,  his  heir ;  John,  first  of  the 
Kinlochs  of  Gourdie  ;  and  Jean,  married  to  Thomas  Fothringham  of  Powrie. 
He  died  in  1617,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  James  Kinloch  of 
Aberbothrie,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Graham  of  Fintry,  now  Linlathen,  by 
whom  he  had  two  sons — David,  his  heir,  afterwards  Sir  David  ;  and  James, 
ancestor  of  the  Kinlochs  of  Kilrie. 

Sir  David  Kinloch  succeeded  his  father.  He  had  the  honour  of  being  created 
a  baronet  of  N,S.  by  James  VII.,  by  patent  to  him  and  his  heirs  male.      He 


Ohap.  XLIII.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES— MEIGLE.  341 

married  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  the  house  of  Bethune  of  Balfour,  by  whom 
he  had  no  issue ;  secondly,  Margaret  Graham,  his  cousin,  of  the  house  of 
Fintry,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons — James,  his  successor,  and  William. 

Sir  John,  second  baronet  of  Kinloch,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  heiress 
of  John  Nevay  of  that  ilk,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Of  these  the  eldest,  James,  was  his  heir,  the  other  sons  having  died  young  or 
without  succession ;  Margaret  was  married  to  Yeaman  of  Murie ;  Jean  to 
James  Eattray  of  Kanangulzion  ;  Agnes  to  James  Smith  of  Camno.  He  died 
in  1744,  and  was  succeeded  by  Sir  James  Kinloch  of  that  ilk  and  Nevay,  his  son, 
third  baronet  of  Kinloch.  He  married  Janet  Duff,  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of 
Fife,  by  whom  he  had  six  sons  and  seven  daughters,  most  of  whom  died  young. 
Sir  James  joined  the  rebels  in  1745.  He  was  captured,  tried,  and  condemned 
to  death,  but  he  escaped  to  France,  and  was  subsequently  pardoned.  His 
estates  and  title  were  forfeited,  but  were  subsequently  purchased  by  his 
relatives  for  his  son,  William,  who  died,  having  sold  them  to  Captain  George 
Oliphant  Kinloch  of  Rosemount,  his  cousin. 

Neither  Wiliam  Kinloch,  son  of  Sir  James,  third  baronet,  nor  any  of  his 
brothers  left  issue.  James  Kinloch  of  Kilrie  was  second  son  of  James  Kinloch 
of  Aberbothrie  by  a  daughter  of  Graham  of  Fintry.  He  was  a  physician  of 
eminence,  and  married  CeciHa,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fothringbam  of  Powrie, 
by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  David  and  John.  David,  his  heir,  designed  of  Kilrie, 
married  Isabel,  second  daughter  of  George  Oliphant  of  Clashbeaie,  and  by  her 
he  had  a  son,  John.  John,  the  second  son,  married  Jean,  eldest  daughter  and 
sole  heir  of  said  George  Oliphant,  and  by  her  had  four  sons,  George  Oliphant 
Kinloch,  John,  David,  and  James  ;  also  two  daughters,  Cecelia  and  Helen. 
John  died  in  the  west  Indies  ;  David  and  James  died  young. 

Captain  George  Oliphant  Kinloch  of  Rosemount  sold  Clashbenie,  and,  as 
stated  above,  purchased  the  Kinloch  estates  from  his  cousin,  William  Kinloch, 
son  of  the  baronet.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  John  Balneavis  of  Cairn- 
beddie,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  John  and  George. 

George  Kinloch  succeeded  to  the  estates  of  Kinloch.  He  married  liis  cousin, 
Helen,  third  daughter  of  John  Smyth  of  Balharry,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons, 
George,  who  succeeded,  and  John,  and  six  daughters,  Cecilia,  Margaret,  Helen, 
Anne,  Eliza,  and  Jemima-Joan. 

George  Kinloch  was  born  at  Airlie  Lodge,  Dundee,  on  30th  April,  1775. 
In  the  second  decade  of  this  century  the  question  of  Parliamentary  Reform 
had  begun  to  be  agitated,  and  he  devoted  his  time  and  talents  to  the  realiza- 


342  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

tion  of  that  much-needed  boon.  In  1817,  and  again  in  1819,  lie  attended 
public  meetings  on  the  Magdalene  Green  in  furtherance  of  the  Reform  move- 
ment. At  the  first  meeting  about  7000  people  were  present,  and  about  10,000 
at  the  second.  In  those  days  the  free  expression  of  opinions  on  matters  which 
did  not  accord  with  the  views  of  the  then  Tory  Ministry  was  not  permitted, 
and  for  the  part  Mr  Kinloch  had  taken  at  the  meetings,  &c.,  he  was  summoned 
to  appear  at  the  Court  of  Justiciary  at  Edinburgh  on  22d  December,  1819, 
but  he  did  not  attend,  having  left  the  country,  and  he  was  outlawed  for  non- 
appearance. 

When  George  IV.  was  in  Edinburgh  in  1822,  one  of  Mr  Kinloch's  daughters 
was  presented  to  the  King,  and  at  her  request  the  outlawry  was  recalled.  On 
the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill  in  1832,  Dundee  acquired  the  right  to  send  a 
Member  of  its  own  to  Parliament,  and  after  a  keen  contest,  Mr  Kinloch  was, 
on  22d  December,  1832,  returned  Member  for  Dundee.  On  29th  January, 
1833,  he  took  his  seat  in  Parliament,  being  the  first  (Scottish  Member  who 
entered  the  House.  His  public  career  as  a  Member  of  Parliament  was  short, 
as  he  died  in  London  on  28th  March,  1833,  in  his  58th  year.  For  the  aid  he 
gave  to  the  Guildry  in  obtaining  popular  management  for,  and  the  improvement 
of,  the  harbour  against  the  self-elected  Town  Council  1814-5,  a  service  of  plate 
was  presented  to  him  on  13th  October,  1815,  by  the  Incorporation.  Mr  Kinloch's 
death  was  received  with  much  sorrow  in  Dundee  and  throughout  the  district, 
and  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  public  memorial  to  his  name.  After  a  long 
delay,  an  admirable  bronze  statue  was  erected  in  Albert  Square,  on  the  granite 
pedestal  of  which  is  the  following  inscription—"  George  Kinloch  of  Kinloch, 
outlawed  for  the  advocacy  of  popular  rights,  22d  December,  1819,  proclaimed 
Member  for  Dundee  in  the  first  Reformed  Parliament,  22d  December,  1832. 
Born  in  Dundee,  1775.  Died  in  London,  1833.  Erected  by  public  subscrip- 
tion to  commemorate  a  signal  triumph  of  political  justice,  3d  February, 
1872." 

George  Kinloch,  M.P.,  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  George,  born  13th 
October,  1880,  who  married,  21st  October,  1845,  Margaret  Canning,  only  child 
of  George  Canning,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  viz*- : — 
John  George  Smyth,  his  heir  ;  George- Washington- Andrew  of  Balhary,  born 
30th  November,  1853;  Robert- Alexander-George,  born  10th  July,  1855; 
Marjory  C.  Jane,  Elena  C.  Anne,  Margaret  Aimie  (married  29th  April,  1873, 
to  W.  J.  S.  Barber  Starkey,  and  has  issue),  Evangeline  E.  Oliphant,  and 
Charlotte  J.  Blanche.      He  was  created  a  baronet  on  16th  April,  1873.      Sir 


Chap.  XLIII.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MEIGLE.  343 

George  was  a  member  of  the  Scotch  Bar,  a  J.P.  and  D.L.  for  the  county  of 
Forfar,  &c.     He  died,  on  18th  June,  1881. 

Sir  John  George  Smyth  Kinloch,  second  baronet  of  the  new  creation,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  estates  and  baronetcy  on  the  death  of  his  father.  B.A.  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge ;  J.P.  for  the  counties  of  Forfar  and  Perth ;  born  8th 
January,  1849 ;  married,  8th  January,  1878,  Jessie  Montgomerie,  elder 
daughter  of  George  Lumsden,  Edinburgh,  and  by  her  has  issue,  a  son,  George, 
born  1880,  and  two  daughters,  Ethil  Oliphant  and  Jean  Lumsden. 

KINLOCH  ARMS. 

Arms — Quarterly. — First  grand  quarter,  az.,  a  boar's  head,  erased,  between  three  mascles, 
or,  a  crescent  of  the  second  in  chief  for  difference,  for  Eanloch  ;  second  grand  quarter 
gu.  a  chevron  embattled  between  three  crescents,  arg.  for  Oliphant ;  third  grand 
quarter  parted  per  f ess,  arg. ,  and  sa.  a  chevron  between  three  cinquef oils  counter- 
changed,  for  Balneavis  ;  fourth  grand  quarter,  counter-quartered,  1st  gu.  a  broken 
spear  and  a  standard,  saltireways,  arg.,  tlie  last  charged  with  a  cross  of  the  field  and 
fringed,  or,  2d  az  a  cat,  salient,  arg.  ;  2d  arg.,  on  a  saltire,  sa.,  nine  mascles  of  the 
first,  a  bordure,  az.  ;  4th  or  three  bars,  wavy,  gu.  each  charged  with  an  escalop  of 
the  field,  all  for  Smyth.  Crest. — A  young  eagle,  perched,  looking  up  to  the  sun  in 
his  splendour,  all  ppr.  Motto. — "Non  Degener,"  not  degenerate,  or,  in  allusion  to 
the  crest,  looking  upward. 

The  mansion  house  of  Kinloch  is  situated  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of 
the  highway  leading  through  the  Vale  of  Strathmore.  The  entrance  is  by 
a  handsome  gateway,  and  a  circuitous  drive,  bordered  by  noble  trees  and 
shrubbery.  The  mansion  is  large  and  commodious,  and  although  two 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  original  house,  they  all  harmonise,  and  the 
building  has  a  fine  appearance.  On  the  lawn  and  spacious  park  beyond 
there  are  many  splendid  tress  of  various  sorts  and  great  size,  including  a  larch 
of  the  same  age  as  the  Dunkeld  larches.  Its  fellow  was  blown  down  on  the 
night  of  the  Tay  Bridge  catastrophe.  There  are  also  many  lofty  silver  firs, 
one  magnate  of  the  family  having  branches  sweeping  the  ground  around  it. 
There  is  one  immense  lime  which,  a  little  above  the  ground,  divides  into 
three  huge  trees  and  several  smaller  ones,  and  rises  to  a  great  height.  From 
these,  long  branches  are  thrown  out  all  around  to  a  great  length,  many  of 
them  resting  on  the  ground,  making  an  impervious  shade  when  the  foliage  is 
on  the  tree.  There  is  a  good  garden,  with  vinery,  peach  house,  &c.  The 
farm  steading  is  replete  with  every  modern  improvement  for  the  admission  of 
light  and  air  in  the  stables,  byres,  and  cattle  courts,  which  are  all  covered,  and 
comfortable  for  the  animals.      There  are  many  old  paintings  of  members  of 


344  ANGUS  OE  FOKFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

the  family  on  the  walls,  and  in  the  library  many  old  and  interesting  volumes, 
some  of  them  rare.  In  one  of  the  books,  entitled  Delitise  Poetarvm  Scotorum, 
Amsterdam,  1637,  there  is  a  Latin  poem  by  Dr  David  Kinloch.  It  was  much 
admired,  and  eleven  complimentary  poems  addressed  by  various  parties  to  the 
author. 

Two  pieces  of  church  plate  are  also  in  the  mansion  of  Kinloch.  One  is  an 
elegant  antique  cup,  which  had  been  gifted  to  the  Church  of  Meigle  by  Sir 
David  Kinloch  of  that  ilk,  as  the  inscription  bears,  on  22d  November,  1693. 
The  other  is  a  lavacrum  (a  bath),  being  a  large  plate  or  vessel,  the  boss  of 
which  is  about  two  inches  in  depth,  and  about  one  foot  in  diameter,  with  a 
border  around  it  about  two  inches  in  breadth.  This  vessel  was  also  presented 
to  the  Church  of  Meigle  on  the  same  day  as  the  cup,  but  the  donor  of  the 
lavacrum  was  Andrew  Gray,  as  the  inscription  bears.  He  is  not  designed  in 
the  inscription,  and  it  is  not  known  who  he  was.  Both  the  articles  are  of 
silver.  There  is  another  old  hammered  silver  cup  of  small  size,  with  the 
Rattray  arms  on  it,  but  its  history  is  unknown. 

The  mediaeval  stone  font,  regarding  which  there  was  some  controversy  be- 
tween the  late  Sir  George  Kinloch  aud  the  Presbytery  of  Meigle,  is  erected  in 
the  Episcopal  Church,  Meigle.  It  is  circular  within  and  octagonal  without. 
On  each  of  the  eight  panels  there  is  carved  in  high  relief  some  scene  or  emblem 
of  the  crucifixion,  viz. : — The  crucifixion ;  spear,  and  reed  with  sponge ;  a 
column  with  a  rope  twisted  round  it,  and  a  cock  standing  on  the  top ;  the 
pierced  hands,  feet,  and  heart ;  cross,  with  wreath  hanging  on  it ;  the  hammer 
and  nails  ;  Christ  rising  out  of  the  tomb  ;  the  shirt,  scourges,  and  nails. 

The  lands  of  Leitfie,  in  the  barony  of  Bandoch — A.B.  20m.,  N.E.  100m. 
The  lands  of  Bardmonye  and  Aberbothrie,  in  the  barony  of  Elyth — A.E.  18m., 
N.E.  90m. — belonged  to  Lord  Gray  in  the  15th  century.  On  12th  June, 
1601,  Patrick,  Lord  Gray,  heir  of  his  father,  Patrick,  was  retoured  (Perth,  No. 
77)  in  these  lands.  He  had  shortly  thereafter  sold  them  to  Dr  David  Kinloch, 
who,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  had  a  charter  of  them  under  the  Great 
Seal  in  1616.  He  was  not  long  in  possession,  as  we  find  that  on  1st  Novem- 
ber, 1617,  David  Kinloch,  heir  of  Dr  David  Kynloch  of  Aberbothrie,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (Perth,  No.  251)  in  the  town  and  lands  of  Leitfie,  lands 
of  Eardmony  and  Aberbothrie,  and  pendicle  of  Freland,  with  mill,  pendicle  of 
land  of  Bardmony  called  Boit,  and  boit  (boat)  lands  of  Bardmony. 

On  18th  October,  1667,  David  Kynloch  of  Aberbothrie,  heir  of  Master 


Chap.  XLIII.]         ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— MEIGLE.  345 

David  Kinloch  of  Aberbothrie,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  766)  in  the  same 
land,  &c.,  as  in  No.  251,  and  also  in  the  passage  money  and  custom  of  the 
boat  of  Bardmony  ;  and  in  both  parts  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Overbalmyl — 
E.  40  bolls  barley,  &c, ,  feudifirmce  ;  also  the  sixth  part  of  said  town  and  lands 
of  Over  Balmyill,  which  once  belonged  to  John  Bell,  in  the  lordship  of  Cupar 
— E.  10  bolls  oatmeal,  &c.,  feudifirmcB.  The  large  and  small  rectory  and 
vicarage  teinds  of  the  Over  Balmy le — E.  £26  16s  4d,  feudifirmae. 

On  8th  March,  1628,  Janet  Steel,  heir  of  Thomas  Steel,  her  father,  was 
retoured  in  the  mill  and  mill  lands  of  Aberbothrie — E.  13  bolls  victual. 
The  Cairns  and  the  farm  of  Aberbothrie  are  now  possessed  by  the  trustees  of 
the  late  Robert  Smyth  of  Balhary.  The  house  of  Aberbothrie  and  the  farm 
of  Millbank  of  same  are  possessed  by  the  trustees  of  the  late  David  Harris  of 
Aberbothrie. 

The  earliest  proprietor  of  Meigle  of  which  we  have  seen  any  account  is 
Simon,  already  mentioned,  who  gave  the  church,  &c.,  to  the  Prior  of  St 
Andrews,  near  the  end  of  the  twelfth  century.  This  gift  was  made  in  the  time 
of  William  the  Lion,  and  this  King  may  have  given  the  lands  to  that  family. 
It  is  certain  that  they  assumed  their  surname  from  the  name  of  their  lands  of 
Meigle. 

King  Robert  II.  gave  to  John  de  Retre  and  Margaret  de  My  gill,  his  spouse, 
charter  of  the  lands  of  Logymigill  by  resignation  of  John  Mygill,  her  father 
(In.  to  Ch.,  124-5).  The  King  gave  to  John  de  Migghil  charter  of  the 
barony  of  Mygghil  by  resignation  of  John  Mygghil,  his  grandsire  (do., 
128-9).  He  also  gave  to  William  de  Mygill  charter  of  same  barony  on  the 
resignation  of  John  de  Mygill,  his  grandfather  (do.,  133-28).  Roger  de 
Miggel,  along  with  other  Perthshire  barons,  did  fealty  to  King  Edward  I.  in 
1296.  The  last  notice  of  the  surname  which  we  have  seen  is  between  1398- 
1405,  when  Robert  III.  granted  to  David,  Earl  of  Crawford,  charter  of  the 
barony  of  Megill,  by  resignation  of  William  Megill  (In.  to  Ch.,  142  83).  The 
family  therefore  appear  to  have  retained  possession  of  the  barony  of  Meigle  for 
upwards  of  two  centuries.  The  Lindsays  continued  in  possession  of  Meigle 
and  many  of  the  surrounding  lands  for  about  the  same  length  of  time. 

The  lands  of  Meigle  belonged  to  the  Lindsays,  Earls  of  Crawford,  in  the  16th 

century.     On  28th  June,  1608,  David,  Earl  of  Crawford,  was  served  heir  (No. 

189)  to  his  father,  David,  Earl  of  Crawford,  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Meigle 

— A.E.  £30,  N.E.  £82.      On  1st  August,  1615,  George  Lindsay,  second  son 

2x 


346  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

of  Sir  Henry  Lindsay  of  Careston,  was  served  heir  (No.  232)  in  the  same 
lands  and  barony,  teinds  of  Alyth,  Ballindoch ;  also  in  the  lands  and  barony 
of  Pitfour— A.E.  £30,  N.E.,  £120. 

The  lands  of  Meigle  afterwards  came  into  possession  of  Lord  Elibank.  He 
also  acquired  some  of  the  contiguous  estates,  which  he  gave  to  his  son,  Patrick 
Murray,  who  was  designed  of  Meigle  and  Simprim.  The  lands  remained  some 
time  in  the  hands  of  the  Murrays.  Peter,  the  last  of  the  name  who  owned 
them,  married,  on  24th  May,  1802,  Susan,  youngest  daughter  of  Sir  Robert 
Murray  of  Hillhead,  Bart.  He  died  at  Arthur  stone  on  24th  May,  1842.  He 
left  two  daughters.  The  eldest  was  married  to  Vice- Admiral  Brunswick  L. 
Popham,  and  carried  to  him  the  estate  of  Potento  or  Cardean.  The 
youngest  daughter  was  married  to  Lord  Talbot  de  Malahide,  and  with  her  he 
got  the  estate  of  Simprim.  The  estate  of  Meigle  was  acquired  by  the  trustees 
of  the  Earl  of  Strathmore.  In  1871  the  Earl  disposed  of  the  estate  to  George, 
afterwards  Sir  George,  Kinloch  of  Kinloch,  Bart.,  for  the  sum  of  £73,000. 
The  mansion  house  of  Meigle  is  close  by  the  village,  and  surrounded  by  well- 
grown  trees,  with  a  park  in  front. 

The  mill  and  mill  lands  of  Meigle  belonged  to  the  Bannatynes  of  Newtyle 
in  the  16th  century,  and  for  some  time  thereafter.  On  24th  May,  1596, 
Master  James  Bannatyne,  heir  of  Master  Thomas  Bannatyne  of  Newtyld,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (Perthshire,  No.  1073)  in  said  mill  and  mill  lands. 

On  18th  April,  1G72,  Margaret  and  Ann  Eattray,  heirs  portioners  of  John 
Rattray,  their  father,  were  retoured  (Perth,  No.  894)  in  the  mill  of 
Meigle,  outfield  and  dominical  lands  of  Meigle,  marsh  of  Meigle,  &c. — A.E. 
£5,  N.E.  £20. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Meigle  was  at  an  early  period  the  seat  of  an 
ecclesiastical  establishment.  Skene,  in  his  chronicles  of  the  Picts  and  Scots, 
says,  p.  188  : — "  The  Legend  of  St  Andrew  was  written  there,  either  in  whole 
or  in  part."  "  Thana,  son  of  Dudabrach,  engraved,  or  wrote,  this  monument 
to  King  Thorath,  son  of  Bergeth,  in  the  town  of  Migdele."  The  date  assigned 
to  this  writing  is  A.D.  839-42. 

The  many  sculptured  stones  found  in  and  about  the  church  and  village  of 
Meigle  are  evidence  that  Meigle  was  not  only  an  early  ecclesiastical  establish- 
ment, but  also  that  it  was  one  of  great  importance  in  very  early  times. 

The  meaning  of  Meigle  is  doubtful.  It  has  been  spelled  in  many  ways, 
Mig-dale,  Magh-dele,  Magh-ail,  and  others.     The  latter  may  mean  the  stones 


Chap.  XLIII]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MEIGLE.  347 

of  the  plain,  referring  to  the  monoliths  at  Arthurstone  and  Belmont,  which 
probably  were  there  long  before  the  sculptured  stones  left  the  hands  of  the 
sculptor. 

The  sculptured  stones  of  Meigle  have  been  carefully  examined  by  many 
eminent  archaeologists  and  others,  and  drawings  of  them  have  been  frequently 
taken  ;  and  published  in  "  The  Sculptured  Stones  of  Scotland,"  and  in  other 
works.  Some  of  them  were  injured  when  the  church  was  burned  in  18G9, 
and  others  have  suffered  injury  since.  The  finding  a  short  time  ago  of 
some  additional  sculptured  stones  in  the  foundations  of  a  kiln  at  Meigle  added 
to  the  value  and  increased  the  interest  taken  in  these  famous  memorials  of 
the  Picts,  a  people  who,  in  name,  have  long  disappeared. 

Proposals  were  again  and  again  made  by  Sir  Greorge  Kinloch,  Bart.,  and 
others  to  have  the  stones  placed  where  they  would  be  protected  from  the 
weather,  and  from  the  destructive  hands  of  thoughtless  or  evil  disposed  persons. 
If  destroyed  they  can  never  be  replaced,  and  if  injured  the  damage  can  never 
be  made  good  again.  They  have  made  Meigle  widely  known,  and  have 
brought  many  strangers  to  the  village.  The  inhabitants  ought  therefore  to 
take  a  pride  in  their  antique  sculptures,  and  without  delay  place  them  in  safe 
keeping. 

We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  the  famous  sculptured  stones  of  Meigle 
have  now  nearly  all  found  a  resting  place  in  a  substantial  building  which  was 
presented  to  the  heritors  of  the  parish  by  the  late  Sir  George  Kinloch,  for  the 
purpose  of  preserving  the  stones.  By  removing  the  wall  between  this  build- 
ing and  the  church,  it  is  now  included  in  the  graveyard.  The  building  is 
well  lighted,  and,  the  stones  being  placed  on  pedestals,  visitors  can  comfortably 
examine  them.  There  are  still  two  of  the  finest  stones  exposed  to  the  weather 
in  the  kirkyard,  and  we  trust  that  the  heritors  and  Presbytery  will  soon  place 
them  under  shelter.  There  are  two  spaces  in  the  building  where  they  can  be 
placed  to  be  seen  to  advantage. 

We  have  already  given  some  account  of  the  mystic  symbols  upon  these 
famous  stones  (Vol.  I.,  p.  33-6).  No  key  to  unlock  these  symbols  has  yet 
been  discovered,  and  of  the  historical  records  which  they  doubtless  contain 
we  are  entirely  ignorant.  Were  we  able  to  read  them,  the  revelation  would 
be  of  immense  importance — of  thrilling  interest. 

The  most  important  of  the  Meigle  sculptured  monuments  stood  in  the 
churchyard,  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  church.     Tradition  connects  this  monu- 


348  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

ment  with  the  renowned  King  Arthur  and  his  faithless  Queen  Vanora,  it  being 
supposed  to  mark  her  tomb.  King  Arthur  reigned  over  the  Strathclyde 
Britons  from  the  first  to  the  fourth  decade  of  the  sixth  century,  and 
the  exploits  of  the  King  and  his  knights  of  the  round  table  are  famous  in 
story. 

King  Arthur  paid  a  visit  to  Rome,  leaving  his  nephew,  Modred,  son  of  the 
King  of  the  Piots,  regent  of  Strathclyde  during  his  absence.  Modred  betrayed 
his  trust  by  assuming  the  sovereignty  and  seducing  the  Queen.  Arthur  and 
the  usurper  fought  three  battles,  in  the  last  of  which,  at  Camlan,  his  rebel 
nephew  was  killed,  and  King  Arthur  so  dangerously  wounded  that  he  after- 
wards died  from  the  effects  of  them. 

Vanora  was  imprisoned  in  the  fort  on  Barry  Hill,  and  for  her  crimes  of 
adultery  and  rebellion  she  suffered  a  terrible  death,  having  been  torn  by  wild 
animals.  The  story  of  Arthur  and  Vanora,  and  of  her  death  and  burial  at  Meigle 
are  by  many  disbeheved,  but  there  are  so  many  places  in  the  district  with  which 
the  King  is  associated,  that  there  must  have  been  good  reason  for  the  con-  . 
nection,  and  the  symbols  on  the  monument  are  corroborative  of  the  possibility, 
if  not  of  the  reality  of  the  tradition. 

In  the  Description  of  Scotland  by  Principal  Playfair,  an  excellent  account 
of  Vanora's  monument  is  given.  It  is  as  follows  : — "  That  monument  seems 
to  have  been  composed  of  many  stones,  artfully  joined,  and  decorated  with  a 
variety  of  hieroglyphical  or  symbolic  characters,  most  of  which  are  of  the 
monstrous  kind,  and  represent  acts  of  violence  on  the  person  of  a  woman.  On 
one  stone  are  three  crosses,  with  many  animals  above  and  below.  On  another 
is  a  cross  adorned  with  various  flowers,  and  the  rude  representation  of  fishes, 
beasts,  and  men  on  horseback.  On  a  third  is  an  open  chariot  drawn  by  two 
horses,  and  some  persons  in  it ;  behind  is  a  wild  beast  devouring  a  human 
form  lying  prostrate  on  the  earth.  On  a  fourth  is  an  animal  somewhat 
resembling  an  elephant.  On  another,  eight  feet  long  and  three  feet  three 
inches  broad,  standing  upright  in  a  socket,  there  is  a  cross.  In  the  middle  are 
several  figures  with  the  bodies  of  horses  or  camels,  and  the  heads  of  serpents, 
on  each  side  of  which  are  beasts  and  reptiles,  considerably  impaired.  On  the 
reverse  is  the  figure  of  a  woman  attacked  on  all  sides  by  dogs  and  other  furious 
animals.  Above  are  several  persons  on  horseback,  with  hounds,  engaged  in 
the  chase.  Below  is  a  centaur  and  a  serpent  of  enormous  size  fastened  on  the 
mouth  of  a  bull.  Accurate  drawings  of  these  stones  are  to  be  found  in  Pen- 
nant's Tour.     Many  other  stones  which  originally  belonged  to  the  monument 


Chap.  XLIIL]  ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MEIGLE.  349 

have  been  carried  off,  or  broken  in  pieces,  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  place.  As 
several  of  those  which  remain  have  been  removed  from  their  proper  position, 
as  many  of  the  figures  are  defaced,  and  as  we  are  in  a  great  measure  unac- 
quainted with  hieroglyphics,  the  history  delineated  on  Vanora's  monument  is 
now  irrecoverably  lost.  The  antiquary  may  amuse  himself  with  the  fragments 
which  remain,  but  he  can  scarcely  form  one  plausible  conjecture  with  respect 
to  their  original  meaning  and  design.  The  fabulous  Boece  records  a  tradition 
prevailing  in  his  time,  viz.,  that  if  a  young  woman  shall  walk  over  the  grave 
of  Vanora  she  shall  entail  on  herself  perpetual  sterility.  But,  whatever  ap- 
prehensions of  this  nature  the  fair  sex  in  his  time  might  have  entertained,  the 
most  credulous  are  not  now  afraid  of  making  the  experiment." 

Some  of  the  stones  described  above  as  forming  part  of  Vanora's  monument 
were  destroyed  at,  or  subsequent  to,  the  burning  of  the  church  of  Meigle. 
Since  the  Principal  wrote  the  account  of  the  Meigle  monument,  the  hiero- 
glyphics of  Egypt  and  the  characters  on  the  Assyrian  archives  have  revealed 
their  secrets,  but  the  symbols  on  the  Pictish  sculptures  remain  shrouded  in 
mystery. 

A  huge  monoHth  stands  at  the  West  Lodge  of  Belmont,  but  within  the 
grounds.  There  are  different  legends  regarding  this  stone,  and  another  similar 
in  character  which  stood  near  to  the  house  of  Arthurstone,  and  from  which  the 
house  took  its  name.  That  stone  was  destroyed  in  1791,  and  used  in  the 
building  of  a  steading  near  the  mansion  of  Auchterhouse.  The  two  stones 
were  associated  with  the  story  of  Arthur  and  Vanora.  The  one  at  Belmont  is 
about  12  feet  high,  6  feet  broad,  and  4  feet  thick,  and  there  is  a  large  number 
of  cup  marks  upon  it,  but  it  is  so  covered  with  lichen  that  they  are  not  well 
seen.  Of  this  stone  Wilson,  in  his  Prehistoric  Annals,  p.  94,  says  : — "  A  huge 
mass  of  unhewn  trap  in  this  parish  is  called  Macbeth's  Stone."  Another 
account  says  : — "  In  Belmont  park  stands,  almost  erect,  a  block  of  granite,  20 
tons  weight,  called  Macbeth's  Stone,  and  said  to  be  a  memorial  of  one  of  his 
generals," 

The  local  tradition  regarding  ]\Iacbeth  is  that  in  his  flight  he  seems  to  have 
made  a  stand  between  Newtyle  and  Meigle,  which  is  shown  by  the  name  of 
the  place  where  the  battle  was  fought — Belmont = the  mount  of  the  combat — 
where  Macbeth  was  slain  by  Macduff,  at  the  spot  on  which  the  monolith  was 
reared  ;  and  that  the  tumulus  called  Belliduff  is  where  he  was  buried,  which 
is  only  a  short  distance  from  where  he  fell.  Traces  of  ancient  sepulchres  were 
found  at  Belliduff  Cau-n  (the  cairn  of  the  black  town),  but  we  know  nothing 


350  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

of  the  parties  who  had  been  buried  there.     The  monolith  reveals  nothing,  and 
we  cannot  tell  when,  by  whom,  or  for  what  purpose,  it  was  reared. 

Macbeth  flourished  1039-1056,  considerably  more  than  800  years  ago, 
while  Belmont  is  a  modern  name  for  the  lands,  of  less  than  150  years 
standing.  It  is  well  known  that  Macbeth  continued  his  flight  into  Aberdeen- 
shire, carried  on  the  struggle  for  the  crown  and  kingdom  about  two  years,  and 
was  at  last  slain  by  Macduff  at  Lumphanan.  His  cairn  is  on  the  brow  of  a 
hill  about  a  mile  from  Lumphanan  Kirk.  Osbert,  son  of  Seward,  Earl  of 
Northumberland,  fell  in  a  fight  during  the  pursuit,  and  the  monolith  may  have 
been  erected  to  his  memory.  In  digging  under  it  in  1855,  a  stone  coffin 
formed  of  rude  slabs,  about  3  feet  3  inches  long,  2  feet  broad,  and  15  inches 
deep,  was  found. 

The  witch  of  Cardean  is  a  notable  person  in  connection  with  the  estate  of  that 
name  and  surrounding  district.  Jean,  the  witch-wife  of  Cardean,  lived  in  a 
solitary  house,  on  the  edge  of  a  wood,  near  the  banks  of  the  Dean.  She  was  be- 
lieved in  by  gentle  and  semple  in  the  neighbourhood.  Her  services  were  in 
great  request  for  the  cure  of  cattle  diseases,  and  many  wondrous  cures  she 
is  said  to  have  effected,  for  which  she  was  liberally  rewarded,  and  she  made  a 
good  deal  of  money  by  the  practice  of  her  art — or  of  her  craft. 

Jean's  services  were  frequently  asked  for  to  settle  disputes  between  neigh- 
bours in  her  locality,  and  for  these  arbitration  cases  she  was  generally  well 
paid.  A  story  is  told  of  two  women  who  went  from  Forfar  to  obtain  her 
decision  regarding  some  property  there,  which  had  disappeared.  By  the  in- 
fluence of  Jean  over  them,  she  obtained  a  confession  from  the  one  who  had 
taken  the  property,  gave  her  award,  which  was  a  just  decision,  received  her  fee, 
and  after  giving  both  some  good  advice,  sent  the  women  home  again. 

Her  influence  became  so  great,  and  she  was  so  feared,  that  the  people  in  the 
district  would  deny  her  nothing  she  asked,  which  it  was  in  their  power  to  give. 

While  going  through  a  field  the  proprietor  called  on  her  to  stop,  and,  she 
not  complying,  he  overtook  and  scolded  her  in  angry  terms.  After  he 
was  finished  she,  eyeing  him  contemptuously,  asked  him  if  he  knew  to 
whom  he  spoke.  He  declared  that  he  neither  knew  nor  cared.  She  told  him 
who  she  was,  and  added  if  he  did  not  leave  her  quickly  she  would  make  him 
dead  where  he  stood.  He  was  awestruck,  and  in  mortal  terror  told  her  in 
soothing  accents  to  go  on,  as  he  had  nothing  to  say  to  her. 

It  was  believed  that  Jean  and  his  Satanic  Majesty  often  met  during  the 


Ohap.  XLIV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MENMUIE.  351 

night  in  the  wood  close  by  her  lone  dwelling,  and  that  they  frequently 
quarrelled  and  buflfeted  each  other.  In  the  morning  after  these  hostile  meet- 
ings Jean  bore  the  marks  of  the  scratches  she  had  got  during  the  wrangling 
of  the  evil  pair.  The  black  fiend  had  obtained  the  mastery  over  Jean  in  one 
of  these  fisticuff  scuffles,  as  report  had  it  that  she  went  out  to  meet  her  master, 
as  was  her  wont,  but  instead  of  returning  to  her  cottage  after  the  meeting,  her 
body  was  found  floating  in  the  Dean  the  next  morning. 

The  Plague — A  Special  3Ieeting,  Edinburgh,  10  June,  1645. — The  Counsall 
takand  consideratioun  that  the  plague  is  now  spotting  in  Meigle,  and  also  how  it 
is  daily  increasing  in  Leith,  Edinburgh,  and  other  places,  thairfor  it  is  ordained 
that  there  sail  only  be  two  portis  keeped  oppen,  and  those  gairded  be  the  in- 
habitants of  the  burgh ;  and  that  the  Bailleis  shall  meitt  afternoone  and  set 
doun  their  vottis  for  that  efi^ect,  and  for  securing  passage  be  water  they  have 
ordained  Robert  Skirhne  and  Walter  Rankine  to  go  to  ffyfe,  and  thair  to  cause 
transport  hither  all  boatis  and  yollis  in  ffyfe. 

•     Chap.  XLIV.— MENMUIR. 

The  Church  of  Manmure,  Menuyr,  Menmor,  or  Menmur,  as  the  name  of 
Menmuir  was  variously  spelled  in  former  days,  was  a  vicarage  in  the  Diocese 
of  Dunkeld,  and  is  rated  at  £4  Scots  in  Bagemont's  Roll.  It  was  afterwards 
erected  into  a  prebend,  and  Mircair  of  Spot,  who  is  a  witness  to  a  writ  con- 
cerning the  chapel  of  KUgary  in  1454,  is  the  earliest  recorded  of  the  church- 
men. 

The  church  was  dedicated  to  S.  Aidan,  and  a  fine  spring  in  the  vicinity 
bears  his  name.  S.  Aidan  flourished  in  the  seventh  century,  and  was  of  British 
descent.  He  is  said  to  have  been  Bishop  of  Lindisfarne,  and  to  have  converted 
the  subjects  of  Oswald,  King  of  Northumberland,  to  the  Christian  faith.  He 
along  with  Bede  and  S.  Cuthbert  were  in  much  esteem  there. 

Walter  Leslie,  who  held  the  office  of  parson  before  9th  September,  1502, 
and  is  designed  Rector  of  Menmuir  in  the  Reg.  de  Aberb.,  under  date  1517, 
is  described  "  noble  by  birth,  but  much  more  noble  by  his  eloquence  and 
wisdom."  In  1574,  Menmuir,  Fern,  Pert,  and  Logy-Montrose  were  served  by 
Maister  William  Gray,  minister,  the  stipend  being  £188  15s  Ggd  Scots.  Andro 
Elder  was  reidare  at  Menmure,  salary  £26  13s  4d  and  kirk  lands.  Mr  Jervise 
gives  James  Melvil  as  the  minister  in  that  year,  but  the  Miscellany  Wodrow 


352  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Society,  p.  349,  gives  it  as  above.  James  Melvil  may  have  succeeded  William 
Gray  in  the  course  of  the  year. 

The  parish  is  about  five  miles  in  length  by  about  two  in  medium  breadth. 
It  is  bounded  by  Stracathro  and  Lethnot  on  the  north,  on  the  east  by  Stracathro 
and  Brechin,  by  Careston  and  Brechin  on  the  south,  and  on  the  west  by  Fern. 
The  parish  contains  10,110-239  acres,  of  which  9*911  are  water. 

The  present  Parish  Church  was  built  in  1842  to  replace  the  old  church,  which 
was  erected  in  1767.  The  church  and  manse  have  pleasant  surroundings.  At 
Lochtie,  in  the  south-west  district  of  the  parish,  there  is  a  neat  Free  Church 
with  a  comfortable  manse,  which  is  attended  by  residents  from  parts  of  the 
parishes  of  Brechin,  Careston,  Fern,  and  Menmuir. 

About  forty  years  ago,  when  the  old  wall  of  the  churchyard  was  taken  down, 
there  were  found  in  it  two  sculptured  stones  of  rude  workmanship.  On  one  of 
them  are  two  equestrian  figures,  armed  with  spears  and  round  shields.  On 
the  reverse  is  the  figure  of  a  man  on  foot,  holding  what  resembles  a  pole,  with 
a  circle  or  cincture  on  the  top  of  it.  On  another  part  are  two  figures ;  one 
appears  a  quadruped  and  the  other  a  fowl.  On  the  other  stone  there  is  one 
equestrian  figure. 

A  large  part  of  the  parish,  especially  to  the  south  and  east,  is  flat,  but  the 
northern  division  is  hilly  and  heath-covered. 

When  the  old  Statistical  Account  was  written,  the  crops  raised  were  chiefly 
oats,  rough  or  Chester  bear,  pease,  potatoes,  and  turnips,  which  had  begun  to 
be  sown.     The  farmers  thought  these  crops  were  more  profitable  than  wheat. 

The  prevailing  ailments  were  the  king's  evil  and  a  slow  inflammatory  fever. 
Another  disease  called  sihbins  had  made  its  appearance.  In  some  neighbour- 
ing parishes  it  was  called  the  louping  gout. 

The  parishioners  were  zealous  Covenanters,  and  on  6th  May,  1638,  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  and  Covenant  were  read  to,  and  subscribed  and  sworn  to,  by 
the  whole  congregation.  Sir  Alexander  Carnegy  was,  in  September  of  that 
year,  to  represent  the  Kirk  Session  in  the  General  Assembly  to  be  held  at 
Glasgow  on  21st  November,  1638.  The  Covenant  was  again  subscribed  by 
the  minister  and  all  the  people  who  could  subscribe  it  on  17th  December,  1648. 
The  then  Laird  of  Edzell  was  a  zealous  Covenanter,  and  the  minister  of  Men- 
muir was  appointed  by  the  Presbytery  to  attend  his  regiment  for  a  month. 
The  parish  sufibred  greatly  during  the  civil  wars  in  the  first  half  of  the 
17th  century,  and  on  several  occasions  there  was  no  service  in  the  church 
*'  because  the  enemy  was  still  in  field."    "  The  enemy's  horse  were  in  the  parish, 


Chap.  XLIY.]        ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MENMUIR  353 

&c.,  &c"     During  the  rebellions  of  the  18th  century  the  minister  had  to  give 
place  to  curates,  but  he  resumed  his  duties  afterwards. 

The  Kings  of  Scotland  had  a  castle  at  Menmuir  in  early  times,  but  neither 
the  date  of  erection  or  destruction,  nor  the  site  are  known.  It  is  supposed  to 
have  stood  in  the  vicinity  of  the  church.  Alexander  III.  had  probably  spent 
some  of  his  time  there.  In  the  Chamberlain  Rolls,  in  12G4,  Eda  Montealt  of 
Fern,  Sheriff  of  the  county,  takes  credit  in  his  accounts  for  a  payment  of  five 
merks  to  the  King's  gardener  at  Meumoreth.  David  of  Betun,  the  Sheriff  in 
1290,  claims  deduction  in  his  accounts  for  Ixvi.  lb.  xiij.  s.  iiij.  d.,  rent  of  the 
land  of  Menmoryth,  whicli  could  not  be  recovered  on  account  of  the  poverty 
of  the  husbandmen  of  the  said  land,  as  the  Chamberlain  and  whole  country 
witnesseth,  and  which  rent  was  increased  by  fifty  merks  yearly,  to  the  oppres- 
sion of  the  said  husbandmen,  by  Sir  Hugh  de  Abernethy,  knight  (Ch.  K.  I., 
79). 

On  20th  February,  1347,  under  decree  of  the  Sheriff,  payment  was  ordered 
to  be  made  to  the  Priory  of  Eesteneth  of  the  teinds  of  the  King's  farms,  both 
money  and  grain,  of  his  thanage  lands  of  Monyfeith  and  Menmuir,  and  his 
other  lands  in  the  county  of  Forfar.  Dempster  of  Careston,  and  Collace  of 
Balnamoon  gifted  to  the  Priory  403  from  Balnamoon,  2Gs  8d  from  Balzeordie, 
and  13s  4d  from  Menmuir,  all  within  the  thanedom  of  Menmuir.  The  grant, 
four  pounds  in  all,  was  confirmed  in  1360.  This  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
last  grant  made  to  the  Priory  of  Eesteneth.  The  confirmation  was  dated  at 
Donde  (Aid.  Mis.,  208-10).  ' 

The  lands  of  Menmuir  remained  in  possession  of  the  Crown,  under  the 
charge  of  thanes  as  stewards  for  the  King,  until  after  the  middle  of  the  14th 
century.  On  Sth  October,  1360,  David  II.  granted,  at  Kinnell  Castle,  a 
charter  of  the  lands  of  Menmuir  or  Balnamoon  to  Andrew  Dempster  of 
Auchterless  and  Careston,  and  to  Findlay,  the  son  of  William,  and  John  de 
CuUas,  perhaps  as  portioners.  The  surname  Collace  had  probably  been  as- 
sumed from  the  lands  or  parish  of  that  name  in  Perthshire.  Robert  III. 
(1390-1406)  gave  Walter  Stewart,  Domino  de  Brechin,  charter  of  the 
superiority  of  Menmuir,  with  an  annual  of  6s  8d  sterling,  furth  of  the  said 
lands  (In.'  to  Ch.,  158-43). 

We  have  not  met  with  any  complete  account  of  the  family  of  Collace  of  Balna- 
moon, but  the  following  are  some  particulars  regarding  them  from  the  Reg.  Ep. 
Br.  and  other  sources.  The  first  mention  of  the  family  we  have  seen  is  fully  a 
century  after  they  obtained  the  lands  of  Menmuir  or  Balnamoon.     The  family 


354  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

appear  from  an  early  date  to  have  been  troublesome  to  their  neighbours, 
especially  to  the  citizens  of  Brechin,  and  the  Magistrates  must  have  complained 
of  their  conduct  to  the  King ;  whereupon  James  II.  sent  a  letter,  dated 
12th  May,  1450,  to  John  CoUace  of  Balnamoon,  ordering  him  to  stay  his  inter- 
ference with  Brechin  interests  (Reg.  Ep.  Br.,  I.,  127).  John  had  probably 
been  interfering  with  the  church  lands,  as,  on  25tli  August,  1450,  he  was 
ordered  to  keep  off'  the  church  lands,  and  the  Bishop  applied  for  and  obtained 
an  assize  to  ascertain  the  marches  betv/een  the  lands  belonging  to  the  church 
and  those  of  John  de  Collace  of  Menmuir.  The  perambulation  took  place  on  13th 
October,  1450  (do.  149).  Of  same  date  John  is  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  teinds  of  Balzeordie.  On  19th  December,  1450,  John  of  Collace  is  designed 
portioner  of  Menmuir  (do.,  151).  About  this  time  Collace  married  a  daughter 
of  Patrick,  Master  of  Gray. 

It  would  appear  that  the  steps  taken  to  protect  the  lands  of  the  church  were 
not  sufficient,  as  on  10th  May,  1451,  King  James  ordered  the  Sheriff"  to  pre- 
vent John  wrongously  holding  the  Bishop's  lands  (do.,  1G2),  On  9th  September 
of  same  year  John  was  ordered  to  keep  off  the  Common  of  Brechin.  On  16th 
and  29th  September,  1457,  Thomas  Cullias  was  inhibited  from  the  church 
lands.  On  25th  June,  1587,  charter  was  given  by  the  Bishop  of  Brechin  to 
Walter  Collace,  of  lands  of  Stracathro,  Capo,  L)rymmie,  Newton,  lands  of 
Waukmill,  Baluny,  Muirton,  Smiddyhall,  and  Adecot  (Reg.  Ep.  Br.,  359). 

John  Collace  was  displeased  with  the  marches  fixed  by  the  assize,  and  he 
removed  the  march  stones  and  other  marks  they  had  set  up.  These  proceed- 
ings led  to  many  skirmishes  between  Collace  and  the  townsmen,  and  the  strife 
was  continued  for  more  than  a  century.  Robert  Collace,  who  lived  after  the 
middle  of  the  1 6th  century,  with  52  of  his  tenants,  had  to  find  caution  to 
underlie  the  law  for  collecting  a  large  body  of  armed  men,  and,  under  night, 
going  to  the  Roods  of  Brechin,  destroying  cairns,  and  fighting  and  slaughtering 
some  of  the  inhabitants.  Reprisals  were  made  by  a  large  body  of  citzens,  who 
made  a  raid  into  Collace's  estate  a  few  months  thereaiter,  attacked  his 
servants,  destroyed  some  houses,  their  ploughs  and  harrows,  and  their  cattle, 
&c.  These  details  show  the  lawless  state  of  the  country,  town  and  landward, 
at  this  period. 

Alexander  Collace  was  a  witness,  4th  May,  1547.  Robert  Collace  of  Balna- 
moon, and  his  son,  Robert  jun^-  are  mentioned,  22d  May,  1563.  Robert 
Collace  and  John,  his  son,  sold  Findowrie,  9th  February,  1574.  James 
Rollo  of  Duncrub  married  a  daughter  of  Robert  Collace,  and  she  was  the 


Chap.  XLIV.]        AN"GUS  IN  PARISHES.— MEN MUIR.  355 

maternal  ancestor  of  the  Eollo  family.     John  Collace  was  a  witness,  12th 
March,  1625. 

One  memher  of  the  family  of  Collace  of  Balnamoon  acquired  some  degree  of 
historical  note  for  the  part  he  took  at  the  Battle  of  Brechin,  in  1452,  against  his 
superior,  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  which  is  said  to  have  turned  the  tide  of  victory 
against  the  Earl.  The  change  of  sides  taken  by  the  vassal  in  this  conflict  was 
afterwards  severely  punished  by  his  superior,  as  related  in  the  account  of  the 
Earls  of  Crawford  (Vol.  I.,  p.  320). 

Thomas  Collace,  son  of  the  laird  whose  defection  from  Earl  Beardie  we  have 
mentioned,  fought  on  the  side  of  King  James  III.  at  the  Battle  of  Blackness, 
for  which  he  received  from  the  King,  on  17th  May,  1488,  a  grant  of  half  of 
the  foggage,  with  the  vert  and  venison,  of  the  forest  of  Kilgery  (Scots  CaF-  Pink. 
I.,  p.  332).  This  grant  was  produced  by  the  late  Earl  of  Crawford,  in  support 
of  his  claim  to  the  dukedom  of  Montrose  which  was  created  at  the  same  time 
that  the  above  grant  of  Kilgery  was  made.  The  Earl  maintained  that  both 
these  grants  were  valid,  notwithstanding  the  rescissory  acts  of  King  James 
IV.,  but  this  argument  was  not  sustained  by  the  House  of  Lords. 

John  Collace  who,  on  18th  August,  1632,  was  served  heir  of  his  grandfather, 
John  Collace  of  Balnamoon,  in  half  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Menmuir,  in- 
cluding Balnamoon  and  others  (Hetour  No.  210),  was  the  last  of  the  family  of 
Collace  who  possessed  the  lands  of  Balnamoon.  On  a  stone  built  into  the 
back  of  the  mansion  of  Balnamoon  are  the  initials  of  John  Collace,  with  the 
date  1584.  This  is  the  only  visible  trace  of  the  family  in  the  district. 
He  was  probably  the  grandfather  of  the  last  John  Collace  of  Balnamoon. 
John  Collace  of  Balnamoon  did  not  retain  the  lands  of  Balnamoon  long 
after  completing  his  title  to  them.  On  29th  October,  1631,  Charles  I. 
gave  Sir  Alexander  Carnegy  of  Balnamoon,  K*-'  a  grant  of  the  teinds  of  Over 
and  Nether  Careston,  Pitforthie,  Peathill,  &c.,  with  their  pertinents  (Reg.  Ep. 
Br.,  311).  It  appears  from  the  date  of  this  grant,  in  which  Sir  Alexander  is 
designed  of  Balnamoon,  that  he  had  an  interest  in  the  property  prior  to  receiv- 
ing that  grant.  In  the  retour  (No.  210)  18th  August,  1632,  the  lands  of 
Balnamoon  are  divided  into  two  portions.  One  of  these  comprised  half  the 
lands,  the  value  of  which  is  given  in  the  retour — A.E.  £10,  N.E.  £40 ;  the 
other  portion  is  of  one  fourth  part  of  the  lands — A.E.  £5,  N.E.  £20 ;  together 
A.E.  £15,  N.E.  £60,  which  was  a  large  sum  in  1632. 

Alexander,  brother  of  David,  Lord  Carnegy,  and  his  son  had  a  charter  of 
the  barony  of  Menmuir  on  8th  March,  1632  (Doug.  II,,  514). 


356  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  Carnegies  do  not  appear  to  have  acquired  all  the  lands  of  the  barony 
of  Menmuir  at  first,  part  of  them  having  been  acquired  by  James  Irvine  of 
Brucklaw.  He  died  in  1636,  and  on  1st  October  of  that  year  his  son,  John 
Irwing,  was  retoured  (No.  234)  in  the  dominical  lands  of  Balnamoon, 
the  lands  and  mill  of  Blackball,  Walkerton;  binam  part  of  the  lands  of 
Lochtie,  Cowford,  Balconnel ;  lands  of  Auchfersie  ;  binam  part  of  the  lands  of 
Ledmore,  Kirkton  and  Menmuir,  Chapelton,  Eome,  and  Irland — A.E.  £10, 
N.E.  £40. 

I.  Sir  Alexander  Carnegy,  brother  of  the  first  Earl  of  Southesk,  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  estate  of  Yayne,  in  Fern,  was  the  purchaser  of  Menmuir. 

On  31st  December,  1595,  he  received  a  Crown  charter  of  the  lands  of  Bal- 
rabreich,  in  Careston  and  Brechin  :  another  of  Haltown,  in  Menmuir,  on  7th 
December,  1633  ;  and  another  of  Pitforthie,  &c.,  in  Brechin,  on  10th  March, 
1642.  He  married  Giles,  daughter  of  Blair  of  Balthayock,  and  by  her  had 
two  sons.     He  died  in  October,  1657,  and  was  succeeded  by 

II.  Sir  John  Carnegy,  his  second  son.  His  eldest  son,  David  Carnegy, 
fiar  of  Balnamoon,  predeceased  his  father,  and  Sir  John  was  served  heir  male 
(No.  390)  to  his  brother  David,  in  a  fourtli  part  of  the  lands  of  Balconnel,  in 
Menmuir,  and  others,  on  19th  August,  1662.  He  succeeded  his  father  in  Bal- 
namoon in  October,  1657,  and  he  was  served  heir  male  to  his  brother  in  Bal- 
namoon on  15th  December,  1658.  He  received  a  Crown  charter  of  the  lands 
of  Nether  Killiallie  on  7th  February,  1662  ;  and  another  to  him  and  his  son 
James  of  the  barony  of  Balnamoon,  erected  of  new,  on  21st  February,  1662. 
He  married  first,  contract  dated  23d  November,  1642,  Lady  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  James,  Ear]  of  Airlie,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  James,  who  suc- 
ceeded ;  secondly,  Miss  Graham,  daughter  of  Graham  of  Claverhouse,  by  whom 
he  had  a  son,  Alexander,  and  two  daughters.       He  died  in  September,  1662. 

III.  James  Carnegy  was  served  heir  (No.  397)  to  his  father,  David  Carnegy 
of  Balnamoon,  on  4th  November,  1662.  James  Carnegie  was  also  served  heir 
male  to  his  uncle,  David  Carnegie,  in  the  fourth  part  of  the  lands  of  Balconnell 
and  others  on  same  date,  when  he  was  a  minor.  On  2d  February,  1682, 
he  received  a  Crown  charter  of  the  barony  of  Balnamoon,  He  married,  first, 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Carnegie  of  Pittarrow  ;  and  secondly, 
Jean,  daughter  of  David  Fotheringham  of  Powrie,  relict  of  John  Carnegie  of 
Boysack.     He  died  on  25th  April,  1700. 

IV.  James,  his  eldest  son  by  his  first  marriage,  was  fourth  of  Balnamoon. 


Chap.  XLIV.]        ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MENMUIR.  357 

He  was  served  heir  to  his  father  in  the  harony  on  1st  August,  1700 ;  but, 
dying  unmarried  on  5th  April,  1704,  was  succeeded  by  his  brother 

V.  Alexander,  fifth  of  Balnamoon,  who  was  born  24th  October,  1683.  On 
7th  May,  1715,  Sir  John  Stewart  of  GrandtuUy  disponed  to  him  the  Mains  of 
Balnamoon  and  others.  He  joined  in  the  rebellion  of  1715,  and  his  lands  were 
forfeited.  He  is  styled  "  late  of  Balnamoon  "  in  the  GrandtuUy  entail  of 
31st  May,  1717.  He  re-acquired  the  estate  of  Balnamoon  on  13th  March, 
1728.  It  appears  to  have  been  purchased  for  him  at  the  public  sale  of  the 
property.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  David  Graham  of  Fintry,  con- 
tract dated  28th  July,  1711,  and  died  before  10th  October,  1750. 

VI.  James  Carnegy,  his  son,  sixth  of  Balnamoon,  born  6th  August,  1712, 
succeeded  to  the  property.  He  was  an  active  adherent  of  Prince  Charles,  and 
is  known  as  the  "  Eebel  Laird."  On  23d  February,  1758,  he  received  a  Crown 
charter  of  the  barony  of  Balnamoon.  On  30th  April,  1734,  he  married 
Margaret  Arbuthnot,  heiress  of  Findowrie,  and  died  in  1791. 

VII.  James  Carnegy  Arbuthnott,  second  son  of  the  rebel  laird,  his  eldest 
son  having  died  in  infancy,  and  seventh  laird  of  Balnamoon,  succeeded  on  the 
death  of  his  father.  He  was  born  26th  June,  1740.  He  was  a  merchant  in 
Gottenburg,  in  Sweden.  On  12th  December,  1809,  he  made  his  will,  by  which 
he  appointed  his  nephew,  James  Carnegy  Knox  of  Keithock,  his  sole  executor. 
He  died  unmarried  in  1810,  and  his  sisters,  Anne  and  Helen,  were  served  heirs 
to  him  on  8th  April,  1822. 

Helen,  born  28th  March,  1758,  was  married  to  her  cousin,  Andrew  Knox 
of  Keithock,  who  was  the  son  of  her  aunt,  Anne,  daughter  of  the  fifth  laird, 
and  James  Knox  of  London. 

VIII.  Their  son,  James  Carnegy  Knox,  who  had  been  appointed  sole 
executor  of  his  uncle,  James,  in  his  will,  dated  12th  December,  1809,  suc- 
ceeded as  eiglith  laird  to  the  estates  of  Balnamoon  and  Findowrie.  As  sole  heir 
of  his  father,  Andrew  Knox  of  Keithock,  he  was  also  proprietor  of  that  estate. 
He  took  the  names  of  James  Carnegy  Arbuthnott.  On  10th  August,  1812,  he 
married  Mary- Anne,  daughter  of  David  Hunter  of  Blackness.  He  died  in  1871. 
They  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  sons  predeceased  their  father,  and 
Miss  Helen  Carnegy  Arbuthnot,  one  of  the  daughters,  is  now  proprietrix  of  Bal- 
namoon in  Menmuir,  and  of  Findowrie  in  Brechin.  Her  younger  sisters  are 
married.  Mary  Anne  Jemima  to  Arthur  Capel,  merchant  in  London,  on  28th 
April,  1852,  by  whom  he  has  a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters.  Their  eldest 
son  is  heir  presumptive  to  the  estates  of  Balnamoon  and  Findowrie.      Matilda 


358  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

EHzabetli  to  Eev'^-  Frederick  Pigot  Johnston,  rector  of  Oakley,  "Wilts.     They 
have  issue  one  child,  a  son. 

ARMS  OF  CARNEGY  OF  BALNAMOON. 

Or,  an  eagle  displayed,  azure,  armed,  &c. ,  gules  ;  within  a  bordure,  vair. 

The  mansion  house  of  Balnamoon  is  a  large,  handsome  building,  the  apart- 
ments being  spacious  and  elegant.  They  contain  many  family  portraits  and 
other  interesting  memorials  of  the  ancestors  of  the  proprietrix.  In  the  grounds 
around  the  house  are  many  splendid  trees  of  various  sorts,  and  the  scenery  in 
front  of,  and  in  the  approaches  to,  the  mansion  is  very  fine.  There  are  a 
profusion  of  large,  flowering  shrubs,  which,  in  their  season,  are  a  beautiful 
show. 

Many  amusing  anecdotes  are  related  of  the  good  humour  and  conviviahty  of 
the  rebel  laird.  It  was  this  laird  of  Bonnymoon,  as  it  is  locally  pronounced, 
of  whom  the  story  of  the  wig  is  told.  On  returning  home  from  a  dinner 
party,  where,  by  mistake,  he  had  partaken  of  cherry  brandy  instead  of  port 
wine,  his  hat  and  wig  fell  off  in  Montreathmont  Moor.  The  driver  of  his  gig 
went  out  to  pick  theiu  up.  The  laird  was  pleased  with  the  hat  but  not  the 
wig,  and  said—"  It's  no'  my  wig,  Hairy  lad."  Hairy  replied — "  Ye'd  better 
tak'  it,  sir,  for  there's  nae  waile  of  wigs  en  Monrimmon  Moor."  On  reaching 
home,  Hairy,  sitting  in  front,  told  the  servant  to  "  tak'  out  the  laird,"  but  no 
laird  was  there.  He  had  fallen  out  on  the  moor  unobserved  by  Hairy,  who  at 
once  went  back,  found  the  laird,  and  brought  him  home. 

On  another  occasion,  when  returning  home  from  a  dinner  party,  accompanied 
by  John,  his  servant,  in  passing  the  river  at  a  ford  he  fell  off  into  the  water, 
"Whae's  that  faun ?"  inquired  the  laird.  "Deed,"  quoth  John,  "I  witna, 
an  it  be  no'  your  Honour." 

It  is  said  that  on  one  occasion,  in  his  cups,  he  mounted  a  stone  wall  and 
spurred  his  fancied  steed  the  livelong  night. 

One  Sabbath  morning  two  gentlemen,  one  a  stranger  in  the  district,  called 
at  Balnamoon  and  were  invited  to  dinner.  They  joined  in  the  forenoon 
devotional  exercises,  which  the  laird  conducted  himself,  and  the  stranger  was 
much  impressed  with  his  piety  and  religious  deportment.  After  dinner  he 
pressed  them  to  drink  until  they  had  to  be  carried  to  bed.  The  stranger  said 
— "  Sic  a  speat  o'  praying,  and  sic  a  speat  o'  drinking,  I  never  knew  in  all  my 
life."    Happily  no  such  drinking  is  common  now. 


Chap.  XLIY.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MENMUIR. 


359 


On  1st  August,  1700,  James  Carnegy  of  Balnamoon,  heir  of  James 
Carnegy  of  Balnamoon,  his  father,  was  retoured  in  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Balnamoon,  comprehending  the  lands  and  barony  of  Carepton,  once  called 
Fairdtoune  ;  lands  of  Xether  Careston,  with  grain  and  fulling  mill  of  same  ; 
lands  of  Little  Waterstoune,  Brocklaw,  and  Berriehillock  ;  piece  of  arable 
land  called  Haugh,  west  side  the  water  of  South  Esk,  with  salmon  fishings ; 
the  public  office  which  he  held  in  the  Justiciary  Court,  and  in  the  Sheriff" 
Court  of  the  county  of  Forfar  ;  lands  of  Pitforkie  and  Peathills — E.  £300 
luardcB  ;  sunny  half  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Menmuir,  viz. — lands  of  Bal- 
namoon, with  mansion  there,  grain  and  falling  mills  of  same,  with  parts  and 
pendicles,  viz.,  lands  of  Walkerston,  Blackball,  and  Buckethill,  grain  and 
fulling  mill  of  same  ;  lands  of  Auchfarsoe,  with  common  pasture  in  hills, 
moors,  and  marshes  there  ;  sunny  half  of  the  lands  of  Ireland,  Cowfoord,  Loch- 
tie,  Balfour,  Leadmore,  Kirktounlands,  Rome,  Tulloch,  Crocebank,  Burner- 
vite,  Pitmedie,  Chapeltoune,  and  Woodlands,  anciently  called  Forest  of 
Kilgarie,  all  included  in  the  barony  of  Menmuir  ;  fourth  part  lands  of  Balconall, 
Ireland,  and  Cowfoord ;  fourth  part  the  lands  of  Rome,  Balfour,  of  Lochlie, 
Leidmore,  Kirktoun,  Pitmedie,  Tulloch,  Burnervitie,  and  Crocebank  ; 
superiority  western  half  of  Balzeordie,  with  pendicles  and  pertinents  of  same, 
viz.,  Meikle-Cruock,  Little- Cruock,  with  grain  and  fulling  mill,  all  in  the 
barony  of  Menmuir,  united  in  the  barony  of  Balnamoon  ;  fourth  part  the  lands 
of  Balconall,  Ireland,  Cowfoord,  Rome,  Balfour,  Lochtie,  Leidmore,  Balzeards. 
and  Kirktoun,  with  crofts  of  land  contiguous  thereto,  called  Shank's  Croft ; 
fourth  part  lands  of  Pitmedie,  Tulloch,  Burnervite,  and  Crocebank,  in  the 
barony  of  Menmuire  ;  dominical  lands  of  Balzeordie ;  town  and  lands  of 
Chapeltoune ;  town  and  lands  of  Braico  ;  town  and  lands  of  Meikle-Cruock 
and  Little-Cruock  ;  mill  and  mill  lands  of  Cruock  ;  town  and  lands  of  Cousine, 
with  fulling  mill  of  Tavock  ;  town  and  lands  of  Langhaugh  ;  town  and  lands 
of  Berriehill,  all  in  the  parish  and  barony  of  Menmuire— A.  E.  ,  N.E. 

100m.  ;  western  half  town  and  lands  of  Balnabreich,  in  the  lordship  of  Brechin, 
with  salmon  fishing  upon  the  water  of  Southesk — E.  14m.  feudifirmae ;  town 
and  lands  of  Easter  Balnabreich,  so  much  as  the  third  part  of  same  beneath, 
above,  and  over  the  Craig,  in  the  lordship  of  Brechin— E.  I4m.  feudiflrmc^  ; 
all  the  land,  barony,  mill  above  written  in  the  barony  of  Balnamoon  are 
united  and  incorporated  together;  town  and  lands  of  Tilliebirnie,  in  the 
lordship  of  Brechin  and  parish  of  Navar— E.  £.5  6s  8d  feudifirmce  ;  part 
and  portion  of  the  common  moor  of    Brechin,  formerly  belonging  to   the 


360  ANGUS  OH  FORFAESHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

city  of  Brechin,  with  privileges  of  pasturage  in  the  moor — E.  £8  feiidifirm^. 

The  earliest  notice  of  Symmer  of  Balzeordie  which  has  been  met  with  is  in  1450. 
On  19th  March,  and  again  on  21st  July  of  that  year,  V/illiam  Symmer  of 
Balzeordie  appears  on  inquests  then  held.  On  23d  August,  1455,  he  received 
from  James  II.  a  charter  of  confirmation  of  half  of  the  lands  of  Brecow,  Crook, 
and  a  quarter  of  the  mill  of  Menmure  ;  and  on  27th  January,  1457,  he  received 
from  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Deskfuird  a  quarter  of  the  half  lands  of  Balzeordie.  On 
8th  August,  1461,  William  Symmer  of  Balzeordie  received  from  John  Smith, 
citizen  of  Brechin,  a  charter  of  the  hermitage  of  the  chapel  of  the  Blessed 
Mary  of  the  Forest  of  Kilgerre,  with  a  croft  of  arable  land  annexed.  The 
charter  was  confirmed  by  James  III.  on  26th  of  said  month.  He  died  before 
27th  November.  1470. 

George  Symmer,  second  of  Balzeordie,  succeeded  his  father  in  the  lands  of 
Balzeordie  and  others.  On  27th  November,  1470,  Sir  James  Ogilvy  of  Find- 
later,  as  superior  of  Balzeordie,  granted  a  precept  for  infefting  him,  as  heir  of 
his  father,  William,  in  the  half  of  Balzeordie.  He  married  Christian  Guthrie, 
and  died  before  16th  December,  1494.  On  that  day  she  instituted  a  suit 
against  John  Dempster  of  Auchterless,  for  injuries  done  to  her  lands  of  Bal- 
rownie  and  Burreltown  of  Balzeordie.  They  appear  to  have  had  three  sons. 
John  Symmer,  third  of  Balzeordie,  died  before  1483.  In  an  instrument  of 
sasine  io  favour  of  his  brother  Thomas,  said  to  be  dated  6th  May,  1483,  he  is 
called  late  of  Balzeordie. 

Thomas  Symmer,  fourth  of  Balzeordie,  who  appears  to  have  been  a  son  of 
George,  second  of  Balzeordie,  was  an  adherent  of  James  III.  during  his  contest 
with  a  portion  of  the  nobility.  On  17th  May,  1488,  after  the  King  had  dis- 
banded his  forces,  Thomas  Symmer  received  from  James  a  charter  of  half  of 
the  Forest  of  Kilgarry,  with  vert  and  venison,  "  provided  that  the  said  Thomas 
faithfully  serve  us,  and  himself  and  servants  remain  with  us,  during  the  whole 
time  of  the  present  discord."     He  died  before  27th  January,  1530. 

George  Symmer,  son  of  Thomas,  and  fifth  of  Balzeordie,  and  George 
Symmer,  son  of  Allan,  the  brother  of  Thomas,  and  others,  obtained  letters  of 
remission  for  the  slaughter  of  Thomas  Cullace  on  22d  April,  1502.  On  1st 
April,  1531,  George  was  infeft  in  Balzeordie,  as  heir  of  his  father,  Thomas,  on 
precept  by  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  that  ilk.  He  married  Margaret  Straton  of 
Laurieston,  and  they  received  a  Crown  charter  of  the  half  lands  of  Balzeordie 
on  6th  April,  1546.   On  5th  April,  1548,  George  Symmer,  sixth  of  Balzeordie, 


Chap.  XLIV.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MENMUIR.  361 

son  of  George,  was  infeft  in  Balzeordie,  as  heir  of  his  father  George.  He 
married  Christiari  Arbuthnott,  and  on  24th  November,  1556,  they  received  a 
Crown  precept  for  infefting  them  in  the  lands  of  Braco  and  others.  She  died 
before  31st  January,  1580.     He  was  living  in  1583. 

George  Symmer,  seventh  of  Balzeordie,  son  of  the  last-mentioned  George, 
was  Chancellor  of  Assize  in  1580,  on  the  trial  of  Lord  Oliphant  for  the 
slaughter  of  Stewart  of  Schuttingleis.  He  married  Magdalene,  daughter  of 
John  Strachan  of  Thornton,  their  contract  being  dated  6th  July,  1582.  In 
implement  of  it,  George  Symmer,  his  father,  granted  them  a  charter  of  Bal- 
zeordie on  18th  September,  1583. 

He  received  varioas  discharges  between  1583  and  1597.  George  Symmer, 
eighth  of  Balzeordie,  received  a  charter  of  a  tenement  in  Brechin,  dated  14th 
September,  1603.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Grahame 
of  Claverhouse.  She  survived  him,  and  afterwards  was  married  to  Robert 
Arbuthnott  of  Findowrie.  George  Symmer,  sun  of  the  eighth  laird,  fiar  of 
Balzeordie,  witnessed  a  charter  by  his  grandfather,  George,  seventh  laird,  on  1st 
May,  1608,  in  which  his  grandfather  is  called  George  Symmer,  senior  of  Bal- 
zeordie. He  appears  to  have  predeceased  his  father  soon  after  witnessing  the 
charter,  leaving  a  son, 

George  Symmer,  ninth  of  Balzeordie,  who  appears  to  have  succeeded  his 
grandfather,  George,  eighth  laird.  In  a  Parliament  held  at  Edinburgh  on 
26th  August,  1643,  George  Symmer  of  Balzeordie  was  named  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners for  the  shire  of  Forfar.  His  great-granddaughter,  Magdalene 
Symmer,  was  served  heir  to  him  on  25th  February,  1738. 

Robert  Symmer,  tenth  of  Balzeordie,  was,  in  1662,  fined  £600  for  his  op- 
position to  Episcopacy.  He  died  before  21st  November,  1696,  George  Symmer, 
eleventh  of  Balzeordie,  having  been  served  heir  to  his  father  on  that  date.  He 
married  Magdalene  Campbell,  and  died  before  1715.  Colin  Symmer,  twelfth 
of  Balzeordie,  their  son,  died  without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister, 
Magdalene  Symmer  of  Balzeordie,  before  1737.  On  20th  December,  1737,  and 
on  25th  February,  1738,  she  was  served  heir  to  her  father,  George,  to  her 
grandfather,  Robert,  and  to  her  great-grandfather,  George,  as  mentioned  above, 
all  of  Balzeordie.  In  1752  she  was  married  to  David  Doig  of  Cookston,  Provost 
of  Brechin,  who  with  her  acquired  Balzeordie. 

One  of  their  daughters  was  Christian  Doig,  Lady  Carnegie  of  Southesk. 
She  died  on  4th  November,  1820,  aged  91  years.      Lady  Carnegie,  who  was 
co-heiress  of  Cookston  and  Balzeordie,  sold  her  own  estate  of  Balzeordie  to 
2z 


362  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

enable  the  forfeited  estates  to  be  repurchased  in  1764.  Balzeordie  and  Bal- 
rownie  brought  £6845.  Sir  James  and  Lady  Christian  were  married  on  5th 
July,  1752.  Balzeordie  was  purchased  by  Sir  James  Carnegie  in  1829  for 
£8300.  It  is  now  included  in  the  estate  of  Balnamoon,  of  which  Miss  Carnegy 
Arbuthnot  is  proprietrix.  She  is  a  kind-hearted  lady,  and  the  poor  in  the  dis- 
trict have  in  her  a  liberal  benefactress,  who  takes  an  interest  in  them,  and  sees 
that  necessary  wants  are  supplied. 

The  Earl  of  Southesk  is  now  understood  to  be  the  representative  of  the 
Symers  of  Balzeordie.  The  Symers  of  Eassie,  &c.,  of  whom  Miss  Helen 
Halyburton  Symers,  St  Helen's,  Dundee,  is  the  representative,  are  believed  to 
have  been  a  branch  of  the  family  of  Balzeordie,  in  Menmuir. 

"  Like  the  lasses  o'  Balyordie,  ye  yearn  by  the  lug,"  is  a  local  proverb,  which 
implies  the  want  of  personal  application,  a  want  which  is  not  confined  to  Bal- 
zeordie, as  it  is  too  common  throughout  the  county — throughout  Scotland. 

The  Somyrs  of  Balzeordie  appear  to  have  taken  some  interest  in  public 
affairs,  as  their  name  occasionally  appears.  George  Somyr,  Lovell  of  Bal- 
lumbie,  and  other  county  lairds  were,  in  1478,  appointed  by  the  Slieriff- 
Depute  of  Forfar,  Lord  Innermeath,  to  make  inquiry  regarding  the  lands  and 
goods  belonging  to  Walter  Ogilvy  of  Oures.  In  1580  George  Somyr  of  Bal- 
zeordie was  Chancellor  of  Assize  mentioned  above.  Robert  Somyr,  son  of 
the  laird  of  Balzeordie,  was  beheaded  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh  for  the  slaughter 
of  Graham  of  Leuchland's  son  on  the  haugh  near  the  meikle  mill  of  Brechin, 
by  thrusting  him  through  with  a  rapier,  on  29th  April,  1616.  We  have 
mentioned  that  Sir  Alexander  Carnegy  was  appointed  to  attend  the  General 
Assembly  at  Glasgow  on  21st  November,  1638.  In  the  event  of  his  absence 
Somyr  of  Balzeordie  was  appointed  to  represent  the  Kirk  Session.  His  suc- 
cessor was,  in  1662,  fined  £600  by  the  Earl  of  Middleton  for  opposing  the 
introduction  of  Episcopacy, 

AEMS  OF  SYINBIER  OF  BALZEORDIE. 

Argent,  an  oak  tree,  bend-sinister-ways,  surrounded  by  a  bend,  gvles,  charged  with  three 
cross  crosslets,  or. 

The  aisle  behind  the  Church  of  Menmuir  has  been  the  burial  place  of  the 
Carnegys  since  1639.  On  a  stone  in  it  is  a  carving  of  their  arms  impaled 
with  those  of  the  Blairs.  The  initials  A.  C.  :  D.  G.  B.  are  also  on  the  stone. 
They  refer  to  Sir  Alexander  Carnegy  of  Balnamoon  and  Dame  Giles  Blair,  his 
wife,  probably  of  the  family  of  the  Blairs  of  Balthayock,  or  of  the  cadets  of 


Chap.  XLIV.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- MENMUIK.  363 

that  family  who  owned  Balgillo,  in  Tannadice,  one  of  the  members  of  which 
was  knighted. 

The  lands  of  Balconnel  formed  part  of  the  barony  of  Menmuir,  and  were 
for  a  long  period  included  in  the  estate  of  Balnamoon.  After  the  family  of 
Collace  relinquished  the  property,  part  of  the  estate,  including  Balconnel, 
was  acquired  by  the  Irvines  of  Brucklavv.  They  did  not  retain  their  portion 
long,  as  the  Carnegys  acquired  the  whole  estate. 

They  seem  to  have  sold  part  of  it,  as  Balconnel  was  acquired  by  a  family 
named  Skair,  who  had  sasine  of  it  in  1740.  He  was  the  father  of  Alexander 
Skair.  David  Skair  sold  the  property  in  1749  to  a  Dundee  family  named 
Murison,  who  sold  the  lands  to Scott,  afterwards  tenant  of  Cookston. 

Prior  to  16th  April,  1568,  the  property  of  Burnside  belonged  to  Robert 
Carnegy,  who  some  time  previously  had  been  Preceptor  of  Maison-dieu.  Of 
that  date  he  granted  a  concession  of  the  lands  of  Burnside  to  George  Cramond. 
It  was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  Guthries.  Through  the  marriage  of 
David  Guthrie  of  Burnside  with  Ann,  daughter  of  Alexander  Skair,  the  pro- 
perty of  Burnside  came  to  the  Guthries.  Alexander  Guthrie  died  3d  March, 
1781,  aged  64  years.  Alexander  Guthrie  of  Burnside  died  20th  November,  1836, 
aged  89  years.  Burnside  was  sold  to  Peter  Bell,  Crosstown  of  Aberlemno,  by 
Charles  Hill,  solicitor,  Brechin,  agent  on  the  estate  of  Thomas  Guthrie,  son  of 
Alexander,  in  1844.  Peter  Bell  was  drowned  in  the  South  Esk  3d  January, 
1850,  and  George  Bell,  his  nephew,  succeeded  to  Burnside. 

The  progenitors  of  the  numerous  race  of  Guthries  in  Brechin  and  Menmuir 
were  David  Guthrie  and  Janet  Stewart,  tenants  of  Cookstown.  Their  son, 
Alexander,  had  a  son,  also  Alexander.  He  had  a  son,  also  named  Alexander, 
who  was  farmer  of  Coul,  in  Tannadice.  In  1774  he  married  Barbara  Suttie, 
by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  six  sons  and  daughters.  One  of  the  sons,  Charles, 
born  in  1781,  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  James  Lyell,  farmer,  Carcary, 
and  by  her  had  four  sons,  two  of  whom  were  James  and  Alexander  Guthrie, 
merchants  and  spinners  in  Dundee,  and  three  daughters.  One  of  the  daughters 
was  married  to  the  Rev.  John  Moir,  of  St  John's  Episcopal  Church,  Jedburgh. 

So  numerous  were  the  Guthries  in  Menmuir,  that  there  is  a  tradition 
that  at  one  time  they  could  travel  from  the  Cruick  Water,  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  parish,  to  the  West  Water,  at  the  north-east  corner,  a  distance 
of  about  five  miles,  upon  land  in  possession  of  persons  bearing  that  name. 


364  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  lands  of  Ballliawell  (Balhall)  belonged  to  the  Erskines  of  Wemyss  in 
the  14th  century.  From  them  they  passed  with  an  heiress  to  John  or  Sir 
John  Glen,  of  Inchraartine,  in  the  Carse  of  Gowrie.  He  gave  charter  of  same 
to  Walter  Ogilvy  in  marriage,  which  charter  was  confirmed  by  Robert  III., 
1396-1406  (In.  to  Ch.,  150-61).  They  continued  in  possession  of  the  Ogilvys 
for  a  long  period.  Sir  Alexander  Ogilvy  of  Deskford  had  a  charter  of  half 
the  lands  of  Balhall,  and  a  fourth  of  Menmuir,  erected  into  the  barony  of  Ogilvy 
in  1527.  The  Ogilvys  sold  Balhall  to  David,  ninth  Earl  of  Crawford,  charter 
dated  13th  May,  1555.  They  passed  to  Robert,  the  youngest  son  of  the  Earl, 
about  1572.  He  died  in  1598,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  John,  who  died 
in  1602.  His  sister  Katherine,  who  married  Duncan  Robertson  of  Dalkbane, 
was  served  heir-portioner  to  her  father  and  brother  on  26th  May,  1603  (Ret. 
33).  Shortly  prior  to  this  date,  Katherine  and  her  husband  resigned  Balhall 
and  the  patronage  of  the  Church  of  Menmuir  to  Sir  David  of  Edzell. 

On  5th  February,  1591,  Thomas  Collace,  heir  of  his  father,  John,  portioner 
of  Milton  of  Balhall^  was  retoured  (No.  575)  in  the  sunny  half  of  the  lands 
and  town  of  Bagtown,  and  the  sunny  half  of  the  mill  lands  of  Milton,  and  the 
mill,  in  the  barony  of  Balhall. 

From  Lindsay  the  lands  appear  to  have  passed,  before  1623,  to  H.  Carnegie, 
who  married  A.  Gardjne,  as  shown  by  a  sculptured  stone  built  into  the  farm 
offices  of  Balhall  bearing  that  date,  and  the  initials  "  H.  C.  :  A.  G.,"  with  the 
Carnegie  and  Gardyne  arms  impaled.  The  lands  had  probably  passed  from 
them  to  the  Cramonds,  a  Hercules  Cramond  being  designed  younger  of 
Balhall  in  1646  (Ses.  Rec).  The  next  owner  we  have  found  is  Patrick  Lyell, 
who  possessed  the  lands  and  patronage  of  the  church. 

On  2d  June,  1696,  Patrick  Lyell  of  Balhall,  heir-male  of  Master  David 
Lyell,  minister  of  Montrose,  son  of  Walter  Lyell,  Town  Clerk  of  Montrose, 
son  of  Walter  Lyell,  brother  of  James  Lyell  of  Balmaleidie,  was  retoured  (No. 
541)  in  the  sunny  half,  as  of  the  shadow  half,  of  the  lands  of  Balhall,  with  the 
new  corn  mill,  and  mill  lands,  and  mansion  of  Balhall,  Bagtown,  Milton,  lands 
of  Leichiscroft,  &c. — A.E.  £5,  N.E.  £20.  The  lands,  while  in  his  possession, 
were  enlarged  out  of  the  common  muir  of  Brechin,  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  William  Lyell  of  Dysart  and  Bonnyton.  In  1721  Mill  of  Balwyllo 
acquired  Balhall,  and  sold  them  next  year  to  David  Erskine  of  Dun.  Lord 
Dun  resigned  the  estate  to  his  son  in  fee  in  1732,  and  died  in  1755.  Balhall 
passed  to  his  son  John,  who  died  in  1787,  when  his  son  John  succeeded.  On 
his  death  his  son,  John  William,  became  proprietor.  He  was  killed  in  Ireland, 


Chap.  XLIV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MENMUIR.  365 

in  1798,  when  his  two  sisters  succeeded.  The  elder  sister  died  unmarried  in 
1824.  The  younger  married  the  Earl  of  Cassillis,  afterwards  Marquis  of  Ailsa. 
Her  second  son,  John  Kennedy  Erskine,  succeeded  to  Dun  and  Balhall.  He 
sold  Balhall  and  the  patronage  of  the  Church  of  Menmuir  to  Alexander 
Erskine,  merchant,  Montrose.  The  estate  of  Balhall  now  belongs  to  Mrs  Mary 
Erskine  or  Ellis,  wife  of  Rev.  Robert  Ellis,  North  Grimstone,  Yorkshire,  and 
Mrs  Elmina  Erskine  or  West,  a  widow,  daughters  of  the  last  male  proprietor. 

The  Livingstones  psssessed  the  lands  of  Balrownie  from  an  early  period,  as 
well  as  many  other  lands  in  the  county.  They  came  into  possession  of  the  family 
of  Symers  in  the  15th  century.  The  widow  of  William  Symers,  who  died 
before  1494,  pursued  the  Dempsters  of  Careston  for  not  paying  her  the  teind 
sheaves  of  Balrownie.  James  Carnegy,  who  by  marriage  acquired  Findowrie, 
by  purchase  acquired  Balrownie  in  the  last  half  of  the  18th  century,  and  the 
lands  are  still  included  in  the  estate  of  Balnamoon.  About  the  middle  of  this 
century,  in  a  grassy  mound  locally  called  the  Gallows  Hill  or  Law  of  Bal- 
rownie, a  place  of  sepulchre,  consisting  of  a  circle  of  rough  stones,  was  found, 
inside  of  which  was  a  stone  cist,  with  the  remains  of  a  human  body. 

In  1130  a  battle  was  fought  in  the  parish  of  Stracathro,  but  it  may  have 
extended  to  this  district,  between  David  I.  and  Angus,  Karl  of  Moray,  when 
the  Earl,  with  .5000  of  his  followers,  was  routed.  The  cist  may  have  contained 
the  body  of  a  chief  slain  in  that  fight,  and  the  remains  of  other  bodies  around 
it  some  of  his  men. 

There  is  a  large  rude  stone  in  the  vicinity  called  Killievair  Stone,  and  about 
a  mile  to  the  north  of  it  is  the  Blawart  Lap.  The  following  local  couplet  in 
which  they  are  mentioned  may  also  refer  to  said  battle  :  — 

"  'Tween  the  Blawart  Lap  and  Killievair  Stanes 
There  lie  mony  bluidy  banes." 

The  only  village  in  the  parish  is  the  hamlet  of  Tigerton,  where  there  was 
an  Episcopalian  chapel  or  meetinghouse,  in  which  the  minister  of  the  chapel 
in  Brechin  conducted  the  services,  but  they  liave  been  discontinued  for  many 
years.  There  the  parish  tradesmen,  blacksmith,  carpenter,  shoemaker,  and 
the  merchant  still  have  their  dwellings  and  business  premises.  There  was  at 
one  time  another  small  hamlet  called  Chance-Inn,  but  it  disappeared  many 
years  ago. 

In  the  reign  of  James  II.  Sir  David  Rollo  had  a  proprietary  interest  in 
Ballichie  and  Menmuir,  but  we  have  not  ascertained  any  details  of  it. 


366  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  the  valuation  of  the  lands  in  the  parish  is  as 
follows :— Balhall,  £600  ;  Balyeirdie,  £766  13s  4d  ;  Balrownie,  £300;  Balna- 
moon,  £1181  Is  lid;  Balzeordie  for  Brathnish,  £233  6s  8d;  Hercules  Craw- 
mond's  part,  £200— in  all,  £3281  Is  lid. 

The  earliest  known  charter  of  Menmuir  is  by  King  Robert  Bruce,  dated  1st 
May,  1319.  It  is  a  grant  of  the  office  of  keeper  of  the  forest  of  Kilgery,  &c., 
to  Peter  de  Spalding,  a  burgess  of  Berwick-on-Tweed,  who,  on  the  night  of 
the  2d  April,  1318,  by  stratagem  delivered  Berwick  into  the  hands  of  The 
Bruce.  The  town  and  castle  had  then  been  for  some  twenty  years  in  posses- 
sion of  the  English.  His  wife  was  a  Scotswoman,  who  no  doubt  encouraged 
him  in  his  purpose  to  aid  the  Scots  in  taking  that  important  border  town. 
Spalding  excambed  his  tenements  in  Berwick  with  the  King  for  the  lands  of 
Ballourthy  and  Pitmachy  (Balzeordie  and  Pitmudie)  with  the  above-mentioned 
office,  and  right  to  half  the  foggage.  Spalding  was  subsequently  slain  by  the 
Scots,  but  we  have  not  learned  how,  when,  or  where,  he  fell. 

There  was  a  hermitage  in  connection  with  the  grant  of  Kilgery,  and  the 
chapel  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  of  the  forest  of  Kilgery  appears  to  have 
been  part  of  the  gift.  It  stood  in  a  field  near  the  Chapelton  of  Dunlappie. 
The  chapel  was  demolished,  and  the  stones  were  used  in  building  the  farm 
steading.  A  fine  spring  a  short  distance  south  of  where  the  chapel  stood  is 
still  known  as  the  Lady  Well.  The  office  of  hermit  of  the  chapel  had  been 
acquired  by  Hugh  Cominche.  On  28th  May,  1445,  James  II.  gave  to  John 
Smyth,  citizen  of  Brechin,  the  office  of  hermit  of  the  hermitage  of  the  chapel  of 
the  Blessed  Mary  in  the  forest  of  Kilgery,  with  the  hermitage,  cemetery,  and 
green,  and  three  acres  of  land  formerly  belonging  heritably  to  said  H.  Cominche. 

In  1461  John  Smyth  sold  the  lands,  office  of  hermit,  and  other  pertinents 
to  William  Somyr  of  Balzeordie  for  one  merk  of  yearly  rent  from  a  tenement 
in  Brechin.  The  hermitage  of  Kilgery  was  on  the  south  of  Brown  Caterthun, 
and  between  it  and  the  White  Caterthun.  The  name  is  still  retained  there. 
Among  the  Southesk  charters  at  Kinnaird  are  many  relating  to  the  hermitage 
and  the  office  of  hermit. 

The  famous  hill  fortresses  of  White  and  Brown  Caterthun  are  in  this  parish. 
The  former  is  of  unknown  antiquity,  and  is  a  remakable  object  in  many 
respects.  The  hill  is  976  feet  in  height,  and  though  steep,  it  may  be  ascended 
from  any  side.  The  summit  is  of  an  elliptical  form,  and  there  are  around  it 
an  immense  quantity  of  large  loose  stones,  which  had  at  one  time  formed  a 


Chap.  XLIV.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MENMUIK.  367 

rampart.  The  space  enclosed  by  the  stones  is  nearly  two  acres  in  extent, 
and  strewed  with  many  loose  stones.  Outwith  the  stones,  heath  and  moss  grow 
luxuriantly,  especially  on  the  north  side.  To  the  east  and  south  trees  have  been 
planted,  which  have  grown  up  so  as  to  hide  the  view  of,  and  from  the  hill  in 
some  directions.  On  the  slope  of  the  hill  there  is  the  appearance  of  defensive  out- 
works, and  the  fortress  must  have  been  a  place  of  great  strength,  if  not  hnpreg- 
nable,  when  erected.  When  that  was,  and  by  whom,  is  a  mystery  that  may 
never  be  solved.  The  stones  appear  to  have  been  taken  from  the  bed  of  the 
West  Water,  and  the  labour  required  to  collect  them  and  carry  them  to  the 
summit  must  have  been  immense. 

Some  account  of  this  fortress  was  given  in  Vol.  I.,  p.  46,  but,  having  been 
twice  on  the  hill  since  then^  we  have  more  knowledge  of  the  early  stronghold. 
The  fanciful  description  given  there  appeared  first  in  Euddiman's  Magazine, 
3d  August,  1775,  but  it  is  a  burlesque. 

The  fort  on  Brown  Caterthun  is  composed  of  consecutive  circles  of  earth- 
work, which  give  it  the  dark  appearance  from  which  it  takes  its  name,  the 
sister  hill  taking  its  name  from  the  many  white  stones  which  crown  its  sum- 
mit. The  Brown  hill  is  33  feet  lower  than  its  more  celebrated  neighbour. 
They  are  separated  from  each  other  by  a  deep  valley. 

In  the  old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  it  is  said  that  one  of  a  number  of 
mounds  or  barrows  about  a  mile  to  the  north  of  the  church,  on  being  opened, 
was  found  to  contain  bones  very  entire.  It  was  supposed  they  were  the  graves 
of  Picts  or  Danes  killed  in  battle,  but  the  appearance  of  the  bones  led  to  the 
opinion  that  they  were  the  remains  of  people  killed  in  the  reigns  of  the  first  or 
second  Charles,  when  hostile  armies  were  frequently  passing  through  the 
county  on  their  way  to  or  from  the  northern  districts  of  the  country.  There 
are  two  passes  on  a  small  rivulet  near  the  graves,  called  respectively  Scotch 
and  English  fords,  which  give  some  countenance  to  this  supposition. 

One  mound,  detached  from  the  others,  is  called  Beattie's  Cairn,  and  the  place 
the  Mansworn  Eigg,  i.e.,  the  perjured  land.  There  is  a  tradition  that  two 
neighbouring  lairds  quarrelled  about  their  marches,  and  witnesses  were  brought 
to  swear  to  the  old  boundaries.  The  servant  of  one  of  the  chieftains  declared 
on  oath  that  he  stood  on  his  master's  ground.  The  other  chief,  the  laird  of 
Balhall,  pulled  a  pistol  from  his  belt  and  shot  the  testator  dead  on  the  spot. 
It  was  found  that  to  save  his  conscience  he  had  earth  in  his  shoes  brought 
from  his  laird's  land.  This  shows  the  lawless  state  of  the  country  at  the  period 
when  the  murder  was  committed. 


363  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

In  November  1845,  an  examination  was  made  of  the  ground  within  the  ring 
of  the  Brown  Catherthun.  The  workmen  made  a  cutting  from  east  to  west 
through  the  south  side  of  the  rectangular  mound  or  wall,  then  sections  across  it, 
and  across  the  other  three  sides  of  the  rectangular  enclosure.  Within  the  ring, 
and  on  the  north  side,  equidistant  from  east  and  west,  was  found  the  mark  of 
a  low  wall,  like  the  mound  raised  over  an  old  grave,  of  a  rectangular  shape, 
longest  from  east  to  west,  enclosing  about  20  poles.  At  different  places 
within  the  ring,  and  more  especially  towards  the  east  side,  are  risings,  or  small 
mounds,  nearly  circular.  Other  mounds  or  risings  were  found  at  different 
places  within  the  circle.  The  vegetable  mould  on,  and  at,  each  side  of  these 
mounds  was  removed,  when  it  was  found  that  they  consisted  of  a  few  stones 
and  the  earth  of  the  hill,  locally  called  till,  which  from  its  red  colour  and  hard 
consistency  is  easily  known.  Below  the  rectangular  walls  and  mounds  were 
found  in  the  original  soil  holes  dug  out — some  round,  some  triangular,  and  the 
greater  number  oval,  varying  in  size  from  7  to  18  inches  in  diameter,  about 
one  foot  deep,  filled  with  a  black  matter,  consisting  of  dark-coloured  earth — 
small  pieces  of  bones,  seemingly  of  sheep,  completely  calcined,  and  httle  bits 
of  wood  burned  to  charcoal,  recognised  as  oak  and  birch.  The  earth  appeared 
to  consist  of  refuse  animal  and  vegetable  matter.  No  cinerary  urns,  nor  vessel 
of  any  kind,  and  no  metal  of  any  sort,  were  found  in  the  course  of  the  excavations 
and  operations.  The  rectangular  wall  and  the  mounds  were  distinctly  pointed 
out  by  the  richness  of  the  vegetation  over  them.  The  operations  on  Brown 
Cater  were  made  at  the  sight  of  the  late  Mr  D.  D.  Black  of  Brechin,  but  there 
was  nothing  found  to  dispel  in  the  smallest  degree  the  darkness  which 
enshrouds  these  mysterious  hills.  White  and  Brown  Caterthun  (Aid.  Mis., 
144-5). 

Chap.  XLY.— MONIFIETH. 

Monifieth  was  a  seat  of  the  Culdees.  When  the  followers  of  St  Columba 
first  erected  a  church  here  is  uncertain,  but  it  had  no  doubt  been  at  a  very  early 
period,  as  Angus  was  an  important  portion  of  the  Pictish  dominions,  and  this 
saint  was  the  great  apostle  of  that  nation,  who  in  the  sixth  century  converted 
the  King  of  Pictland  and  his  people  to  the  Christian  faith.  The  Culdees 
remained  until  supplanted  by  the  Roman  Catholics,  during,  or  shortly  after, 
the  reign  of  David  I.,  who  was  a  sore  saint  to  the  Culdees,  as  well  as  to  the 
future  Kings  of  Scotland.     In  Monifieth,  as  stated  afterwards,  they  aj^pear  to 


Chap.  XLY.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  369 

have  kept  possession  till  a  later  period.  The  Celtic  Maormers  of  Angus  had 
large  territorial  interests  in  this  district  of  the  county,  and  they  were  suc- 
ceeded hy  their  descendants,  the  ancient  Earls  of  Angus.  The  third  Earl, 
Gilchrist,  in  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century,  made  several  gifts  to  the 
monastery  of  Arbroath,  which  was  founded  in  the  year  1178  by  his  uncle, 
King  William  the  Lion,  among  which  were  tlie  churches  of  Monifod  (Moni- 
fieth),  Muraus  (Murroes),  Strathdechtyn-coaiitas  (Mains),  and  Kerimor 
(Kirriemuir).     The  Earl  died  between  the  years  1207  and  1211. 

Earl  Gillebride,  the  father  of  Gilchrist,  some  time  prior  to  the  foundation 
of  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath,  contemplated  erecting  an  hospital  near  Broughty 
Ferry,  and  in  his  charter  of  the  lands  and  fishings  of  Portincraig  (Broughty 
was  then  so  called)  to  the  abbey  he  refers  to  this.  Earl  Duncan,  son  and 
successor  of  Earl  Gilchrist,  confirmed  these  grants  by  his  father  and  grand- 
father. Earl  Malcolm,  who  succeeded  Duncan,  granted  the  Abthein  lands  of 
Monifieth  to  the  monks  of  Arbroath.  His  daughter  and  heiress,  Matilda  or 
Maude,  Countess  of  Angus,  who  married  Gilbert  de  Umphraville,  in  1242-3 
confirmed  the  charters  of  the  above-named  churches,  and  also  gave  the  abbey 
a  toft  and  croft  of  land  at  Monifieth,  which,  in  the  charter,  is  described  as  the 
land  to  the  south  of  that  church  which  "  the  Culdees  held  in  her  father's  time." 

It  is  probable  that  the  Culdees  had  resisted  these  annexations,  and  retained 
possession  of  the  Church  of  Monifieth,  with  the  lands  and  emoluments  attached 
thereto.  Had  they  acquiesced  in  the  transfer  of  them  to  the  new  faith,  these 
successive  confirmations  by  each  succeeding  proprietor  would  have  been  un- 
necessary. After  the  Countess  confirmed  the  old,  and  added  new,  gifts  to  the 
priests  of  Rome,  they  appear  to  have  remained  in  undisturbed  possession  of 
them,  and  Monifieth  continued  to  be  a  dependent  church  of  the  Abbey  of 
Arbroath  until  the  Eeformation.  The  abbey  derived  a  large  revenue  from  the 
church  in  money,  grain,  and  salmon. 

During  part  of  the  Romish  period  the  parish  consisted  of  four  distinct 
chapelries,  viz.  : — 1.  Monifieth  proper,  where  the  parish  church  stands.  2. 
Broughty,  where  the  remains  of  the  chapel  and  small  graveyard,  on  the 
boundary  between  Monifieth  and  Dundee,  still  show  the  site.  3.  Eglis- 
monichty  or  Ecclesiamonichty,  situated  on  a  knoll  above  the  Dichty,  nearly 
opposite  the  Mill  of  Balmossie,  where  a  single  large  plane  tree,  called  the  "  Lady 
Tree, '  still  marks  the  gpot.  This  chapel  stood  long  in  a  ruinous  state,  but  a 
little  more  than  a  century  ago  the  stones  were  removed,  and  the  mill  of  Bal- 
mossie built  with  them,  the  cemetery  ploughed  up,  the  bones  re-buried,  the  trees 
3a 


370  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

whicli  surrounded  it  uprooted,  with  the  exception  of  the  venerable  plane  which 
yet  remains.  4.  Kingennie,  in  the  northern  district  of  the  parish.  It  was 
dedicated  to  S.  Bridget.  The  ruins  of  the  chapel  were  removed  about  1830, 
and  the  stackyard  of  the  farm  now  occupies  its  site.  To  these  four  "  Chapel 
Dockie  "  might  be  added.  It  once  stood  in  a  field  at  Ethiebeaton,  which  is 
still  known  by  that  name.  It  may,  however,  have  been  a  private  chapel 
attached  to  the  castle  which  in  ancient  times  stood  there. 

In  an  enumeration  of  the  parishes  which  compose  the  Presbytery  of  Dundee, 
after  Monifieth  it  is  added,  "  to  which  North  or  Broughty  Ferry,  Ecclesia- 
monichty  or  Balmossie,  and  Kingennie  or  Omaohie  were  annexed."  We  have 
not  ascertained  when  these  three  religious  houses  were  united  to  the  Church 
of  Monifieth,  and  so  formed  into  one  parish,  but  it  must  have  been  at  an  early 
period. 

On  the  east  end  of  the  Church  of  Monifieth,  the  old  Account  says,  "  there  is 
a  quire,  in  which  mass,  in  the  days  of  Popery,  was  wont  to  be  celebrated." 
After  enumerating  the  four  chapels  in  the  parish,  the  fourth  of  which  was  at 
Monifieth,  it  says : — "  The  chapel  at  Monifieth,  it  is  said,  being  likely  to 
endure  the  longest,  was  made,  as  it  continues  at  present,  the  parish  church, 
and  the  rest  were  shut  and  suffered  to  decay  ;  but  when  this  happened  tra- 
dition is  altogether  silent.  Before  the  Reformation  Monifieth  was  annexed  to 
the  diocese  of  !St  Andrews.  In  1560,  when  Presbyterianism  was  first 
established  in  Scotland,  its  superintendent  was  appointed  to  reside  in  Brechin. 
After  1(J06  it  belonged  to  the  Presbytery  of  Dundee  and  Synod  of  Angus  and 
Mearns." 

In  1.574  the  Churches  of  Monyfiethe,  Murehous,  and  Barry  were  all  served 
by  Andro  Auchinleck,  minister,  stipend  jOIOO  Scots,  and  James  Luvell,  reidare 
at  Monyfaith,  had  a  salary  of  £20  Scots  (Mis.  Wod.  Soc,  p.  352). 

The  church  bell  had  been  procured  about  the  time  of  the  Reformation.  It 
is  well  moulded,  and  two  medallion  portraits  are  upon  it,  but  we  do  not  know 
of  whom.  It  has  a  pleasing  tone.  Upon  a  floral  ornament  around  the  rim 
is  the  following  inscription  : — 

Henricus  :  IE  .  svis  .  tovt  .  povr  .  vRAi  .  Jacob  .  Ser  .  M  .  F  .  MDLXV. 
(Henry  :  I  am  all  for  truth.     Jacob  Ser  made  me,  1565). 

On  a  flat  slab  in  the  churchyard  are  three  shields  charged  with  mortuary 
emblems,  also  the  following  inscription:  — 

1655. 
Here  .  Lyes  .  ane  .  Faithfvl  .  Brother  .  David  ,  MoiuM. 


Chap  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  371 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  surnames  in  the  county.  John  of  Morham  obtained 
the  lands  of  Panbride  from  King  William  the  Lion,  and  about  1214  John 
confirmed  the  King's  gift  of  the  Church  of  Panbride  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath 
(Reg.  de  Aberb.,  pp.  19-20).  The  surname  originally  was  "  de  Malherb,"  but 
having  obtained  the  lands  of  Morham,  in  Lothian,  they  asssumed  Morham  as  a 
surname  (Chal.  Cal.).  The  De  Malherbs  owned  the  lands  of  Piossie,  in  the 
Parish  of  Craig  (Vol.  III.  p.,  140),  and  Hugh  De  Malherb  gave  a  donation 
out  of  them  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  (do.,  p.  42). 

The  churchyard  of  Monifieth  contains  the  remains  of  two  persons  who 
attained  a  patriarchal  age.  One  of  these  was  Elspeth  Craaimond  Brown, 
mother  of  David  Brown,  merchant,  who  was  Provost  of  Dundee  in  the  third 
decade  of  this  century,  She  died  at  the  age  of  102-3  years.  The  other  was 
David  Rennie,  who  died  on  3d  March,  1857,  aged  102  years.  We  understand 
that  the  age  of  each  of  these  persons  is  well  authenticated. 

Dr  David  Doig,  a  native  of  Monifieth,  was  master  of  the  Grammar  School 
at  Stirling.  Lord  Kames  called  him  "  a  genius,"  and  said  he  loved  him'  be- 
cause he  told  him  his  mind  roundly  and  plainly. 

The  Church  of  Monifieth  shared  the  fate  of  many  of  the  great  religious 
houses  belonging  to  the  Roman  Catholics  at  the  period  of  the  Reformation, 
but  no  record  of  its  dismantling  has  been  preserved.  The  parochial  records 
of  the  parish  commence  at  the  date  of  the  Reformation,  and  with  some  excep- 
tions they  have  been  regularly  kept  since  then.  The  records  are  replete  with 
much  interesting  and  curious  details  on  many  subjects,  the  perusal  of  which 
would  well  repay  the  time,  but  little  more  than  a  reference  to  them  can  be  made 
here.  The  first  entry,  which  is  partly  illegible,  is  as  follows : — "  In  April,  the 
6th  day,  1560.  The  which  day  it  is  appointed  that  our  Assembly  of 
the  Kirk  of  Monifieth  .  .  ;  .  Sunday  at  two  afternoon  at  the  kirk,  with 
prayer  unto  Grod  for  his  assistance  ....  to  do  what  may  be  furtherance 
to  his  glory,  and  suppressing  of  Satan,  and  .  .  .  ."  The  spelling  is 
modernised,  and  the  tenor  of  the  entry  is  similar  to  a  bond  executed  at  Perth 
the  previous  year  by  the  reforming  congregations  in  Perth,  Fife,  Angus,  and 
Mearns.  The  second  entry  refers  to  the  state  of  the  fabric  of  the  church.  "  The 
which  day  it  is  thought  necessary  by  us  that  the  house  of  God  be  repaired  in 
haste,  that  God  may  be  glorified  there.  The  expenses  to  be  taken  equally  of 
he  Assembly."  When  the  old  church  was  taken  down  in  1812  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  new  one,  some  remains  of  the  Culdee  edifice  were  discovered 
in  the  foundations,  which  were  dug  very  deep.      At  the  depth  of  ten  feet  a 


372  ANGUS  OE  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

stratum  of  rich  black  soil  was  found,  under  which  many  bones  were  discovered, 
inchiding  the  skeleton  of  a  man  laid  at  full  length  upon  his  back,  with  every 
bone  in  its  place,  excepting  the  skull,  wliich  inclined  to  one  side. 

'Jliere  is  no  parish  in  the  county  the  history  of  which,  in  very  early  times, 
is  more  interesting  than  Monifieth,  and,  very  fortunately,  the  important  details 
which  have  come  down  to  us,  besides  their  relation  to  the  Church  of  Monifieth, 
supply  particulars  regarding  the  early  Church  in  Scotland,  which,  so  far  as  we 
know,  are  not  elsewhere  to  be  found.  The  Scottish  historian,  Skene,  in  his 
Celtic  Scotland,  gives  an  account  of  the  Church  of  Monifteth,  which  throws 
much  light  on  the  relation  subsisting  between  the  ancient  Culdee  establish- 
ment and  the  new  or  Romish  Church,  by  which  it  was  supplanted  in  the  early 
decades  of  the  thirteenth  century.  In  this  transition  period  conflicting  interests 
had  to  be  reconciled,  and  the  churchmen  and  laity  of  the  two  bodies,  having 
nothing  previously  in  common,  had  to  be  bound  together  by  the  ties  of  brother- 
hood, and  we  can  fancy  how  difficult  a  work  this  must  have  been.  We  give 
the  following  extract  from  Skene's  valuable  book  on  this  most  important  sub- 
ject (Vol.  II..  pp.  394-5):— 

"  The  grants  of  the  old  Keledei  or  Culdee  establishment  of  Monifieth  by  the 
great  house  of  Angus,  and  the  incidental  information  which  the  designation  of  tlie 
witnesses  supply,  and  other  details  contained  in  the  various  charters  by  which 
the  gifts  are  conveyed,  are  of  the  most  interesting  character.  Gilchrist,  Earl  of 
Angus,  bestows  upon  the  monks  of  Arbroath  Hhe  Church  of  Monifod,  with  its 
chnpels,  lands,  tithes,  and  oblations,  and  with  the  common  pasturage  and  other 
privileges  belonging  to  it.'  This  grant  is  confirmed  by  King  William.  About 
the  year  1220  Malcolm,  Earl  of  Angus,  grants  the  land  of  the  Ahihein  of 
Munifeth  to  Nicholas,  son  of  Bricius,  priest  of  Kerimure.  This  grant  is  con- 
firmed by  his  daugliter,  Countess  Matilda,  and  her  charter  is  witnessed  by 
William,  vicar  of  Monifeit.  Another  charter  by  Countess  Matilda  is  witnessed 
by  William,  vicir  of  Monifodh,  and  Nicholas,  abbot  of  Monifodh.  The  same 
r^otrnto'^s  giants  to  the  monks  of  Arbroath  '  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Chu!ch  of  Monifodh,  which  the  Keledei  held  in  the  life  of  her  father,  with  a 
croft  at  the  east  end  oF  the  church  ;'  and  Michael,  lord  of  the  Ahbathania  of 
Monifoth,  holds  this  croft  in  feu-farm  from  the  monks  of  the  Abbey  of 
Arbroath.  'I  hese  charters  show  an  old  Ahfhen,  or  abbacy,  granted  to  the  son 
of  a  priest,  who  then  calls  himself  abbot,  the  church  being  then  served  by  a 
vicar.  A  late  descendant  of  the  abbot  appears  to  have  dropped  the  title  of 
abbot,  and  is  now  designated  simply  as  '  de  Monifoth,'  and  he  calls  himself 


Chap.  XLY.]        ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MONIFIETH.  373 

lord  of  the  AbLthania,  or  territory  of  the  abbacy.  The  ancient  monastery  of 
Monifieth  had  passed  from  a  churchman  into  the  hands  of  a  hereditary  lay 
abbot,  part  of  the  land  being  at  same  time  held  by  a  body  of  Keledei,  who,  in 
the  last  charter  by  Countess  Matilda,  are  mentioned  as  of  the  past,  having  then 
left  the  scene  of  their  old  labours  never  more  to  return. 

"  The  Church  of  Monifieth  was  dedicated  to  St  Kegulus,  or  St  Rule.  Within 
the  parish  was  the  chapel  of  Eglismonichty,  dedicated  to  St  Andrew.  The 
older  dedication,  that  of  the  parish,  was  Cohimban,  while  the  later,  the  chapel, 
was  Pictish.  The  lay  abbacy  belonged  to  the  f  )rmcr,  and  the  Culdee  estab- 
lishment to  the  later,  foundation.  It  was  no  unusual  thing  for  the  old 
Columban  foundations  to  come  into  the  possession  of  a  lay  family,  and  this 
misappropriation  of  the  church  property  certainly  hastened  the  downfall  of 
that  venerable  establishment,  tlie  original  Christian  Church  in  Pictavia.'' 

Bishop  Forbes,  in  his  "  Kalendars  of  Scottish  Saints,"  suirgests  tluit  S.  Muren, 
the  daughter  of  Hungus  and  Finchen,  King  and  Queen  of  the  Picts,  was  born 
at  Ecclesmonichtie.  According  to  the  chronicles  of  the  Picts,  Finchen  gave 
Moneclatu  (Monichtie),  the  place  where  S.  Murren  wasborn,to  God  and  to  the 
Church  of  St  Andrews.  The  Church  of  Kcclesiomoniclity  may  have  been 
dedicated  to  the  Virgin,  as  the  tree  that  marks  the  site  of  the  church  is  called 
the  "  Lady  Tree." 

In  former  times  there  may  have  been  a  village  at  or  near  the  church.  In  a 
charter  granted  by  the  Earl  of  Angus  at  Cupar-Fife,  on  27th  October,  1619,  to 
James  Lovell  of  Balumbie  "  the  town  and  lands  of  Egglismonichtie,"  iti  the 
regality  of  Kirriemuir,  are  specified.  The  charter  also  includes  the  lands  of 
Murrois,  Carmoatie,  and  Labothie,  with  the  mill  and  mill  lands  of  same,  in 
the  barony  of  Inverarity  ;  the  lands  of  West  Ferry,  with  the  salmon  fishings 
called  Lie,  Westcrukis,  et  Ferryduris,  in  the  barony  of  Dundee  ;  also  the  lands 
and  mills  of  Balmossie  ;  the  lands  of  Monifieth  and  Justingleyis,  with  Cunnie- 
lairs  ;  the  Links,  and  salmon  fishings  in  the  Tay  ;  together  with  Barnhill, 
Balclochar,  Bracquhan,  and  Lie  Camp ;  lands  to  Ihe  west  of  the  pont  or  boat 
of  Monifieth,  the  salmon  fishings  of  Polmonichtie,  which  adjoined  the  said 
pont,  and  the  Blackcraig,  all  situated  within  the  regality  of  Kirriemuir  (Writs 
at  Panmure).  The  lands  and  fishings  at  West  Ferry,  with  Balumbie,  were 
acquired  by  the  Maules,  and  their  descendants  still  own  West  Ferry  and 
fishings. 

The  chartulary  of  Arbroath  contains  references  to  several  persons  of  im- 
portance having  connection  with  Monifieth  in  early  times,  besides  the  Earls  and 


374  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Countess  of  Angus.  In  the  charter  by  Matilda,  Countess  of  Angus,  1242, 
Dominus  William,  Vicare  de  Monifod,  and  Nicholas,  Abate  de  Monifod,  are 
witnesses  (p.  34).  In  a  confirmation  charter  by  the  Countess  these  two 
ecclesiastics  are  also  among  the  witnesses  (p.  82).  Adam  Yicar  de  Monifuth 
is  one  of  the  witnesses  to  a  charter  by  Hugh,  Lord  of  Aberbrothock,  of  the 
Church  of  Garvock,  in  1282  (p.  271).  In  isiO  Michael  de  Monifuth  granted 
an  obligation  to  the  Abbot  (Bernard)  and  Convent  of  Aberbrothock,  for  pay- 
ment of  certain  sums  of  money  in  connection  with  the  lands  in  the  Abthanie 
de  Monifoth  (p.  278).  The  latter  of  these  we  have  referred  to  above.  He 
may  have  been  proprietor  of  the  lands  of  Monifieth  under  the  superiority  of 
the  Earls  of  Angus,  and  have  assumed  a  surname  from  his  lands,  as  was  then 
customary.  We  know  nothing  of  his  successors  in  the  lands  of  Monifieth,  and 
we  are  unable  to  describe  or  identify  the  lands. 

The  Church  of  Monifieth  was  erected  in  1812,  on  the  site  of  its  predecessor, 
and  there  is  little  doubt  that  a  church  has  stood  on,  or  close  upon,  the  same 
spot  from  the  time  of  the  Culdees  to  the  present.  The  previous  church  was 
very  old,  but  the  date  of  its  erection  is  not  known.  It  may  have  been  about 
the  time  of  the  Keformation.  Architecturally  it  was  a  finer  edifice  than  its 
successor,  but  it  was  little  more  than  half  the  width  of  the  present  building, 
and  only  about  36  feet  in  height.  It  had  an  aisle  on  its  north  side,  and  a 
choir  at  the  east  end.  The  pulpit  was  in  the  south-east  part  of  the  church  ; 
on  the  west  and  north  walls  there  was  a  gallery,  part  of  which  was  occupied 
by  the  Broughty  Ferry  fishermen,  who  attended  the  parish  church  with 
regularity,  as  did  others  of  the  seafaring  population.  Over  this  portion  of 
the  gallery  hung  a  full-rigged  ship,  suspended  from  the  roof,  and  the  front  of 
the  loft  was  ornamented  with  the  figure  of  Neptune  in  his  car  in  the  centre, 
and  other  nautical  devices  on  each  side.  When  the  old  church  was  taken 
down,  the  sailors  removed  the  ship  and  other  memorials  of  their  craft. 

There  was  a  fine  moulding  in  the  old  church,  beautiful  oak  carvings,  a 
monument  to  Rev.  John  Barclay,  who  was  minister  in,  and  for  some  time 
aftfr,  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was  within  the  "  Queer." 
There  was  also  a  remarkably  fine  tomb  to  Durham  of  Pitkerro,  who  in  1626 
gave  300  merks  to  the  poor  of  the  parish.  He  was  permitted  to  erect  a  burial 
aisle  on  the  north  side  of  the  choir.  There  was  an  inscription  on  the  tomb  in 
neatly  cut,  interlaced,  Roman  capitals,  which  translated  into  English  reads  :— 
"  In  this  tomb,  which  he  caused  to  be  constructed  for  himself,  lies  Durham  of 
Pitkerro,  a  distinguished,  pious,  and  good  man,  cashier  of  the  late  King  James 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.— MONIFIETH.  375 

VI.  of  immortal  memory,  and  whose  ancestors,  who  bore  the  same  name  and 
arms,  were  settled  in  this  parish  in  the  reigii  of  King  Robert  I.,  where  they 
have  occupied  a  distinguished  position  up  to  the  present  time." 

These  interesting  memorials  were  wantonly  destroyed  during  the  demolition 
of  the  old  church,  but  some  fragments  of  the  Durham  tomb  are  built  into  the 
east  gable,  and  the  stone  with  the  inscription,  apparently  somewhat  injured,  is 
built  into  that  gable,  but  at  such  an  altitude  that  it  can  with  difficulty  be 
read.  Durham  was  cashier  of  James  VI.,  and  was,  "  by  desire  of  the  King," 
knighted  at  Dundee  on  21st  February,  1651. 

Patrick  Euthven,  Earl  of  Forth,  who  died  at  Dundee,  2d  February,  1651, 
was  buried  in  the  Durham  aisle.  Rev.  Dr  Young,  the  respected  minister  of 
the  parish,  informs  me  that  some  years  ago  the  lineal  descendant  of  the  Earl  of 
Forth  wrote  to  him  to  obtain  access  to  the  grave  of  his  ancestor,  and  he  had 
to  tell  him  in  reply  that  although  the  aisle  no  doubt  remained,  it  had  been  made 
a  receptacle  for  rubbish,  and  to  get  at  it,  or  to  clear  it  out,  would  be  difficult,  if 
not  impossible. 

For  the  destruction  of  the  grand  old  monuments,  mouldings,  oak  carvings, 
&c.,  in  the  ancient  church,  the  heritors  of  the  day  are  chiefly  to  blame.  To  save 
expense  they  were  utilised  in  the  erection  of  the  new  church.  Considerations  of 
regard  for  the  memorials  of  the  past,  if  these  existed  at  all  in  their  minds,  were 
cast  to  the  winds  when  put  in  the  balance  with  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence.  In 
those  days  many  of  the  gravestones  which  sorrowing  relatives  and  kind  friends 
had  raised  to  keep  in  remembrance  the  memory  of  departed  loved  ones,  were 
wantonly  cast  down.  Some  of  them  were  used  to  form  the  stair  leading  up  to 
the  west  door  of  the  church,  where  they  still  lie,  and  others  were  removed  and 
utilised  for  paving  shops  and  dwellings  in  the  village.  It  is  sad  to  think  that 
the  heritors  of  Monifieth,  in  the  first  and  second  decades  of  this  century,  could 
have  been  guilty  of  such  semi-barbarous  acts  as  those  above  related.  When 
the  proprietors  of  the  parish  so  acted,  we  need  not  be  surprised  that  some  of 
the  villagers  appropriated  old  gravestones  to  utilitarian  purposes. 

In  Vol.  I.,  p.  29-30,  we  mentioned  the  sculptured  stones  which  had  been  found 
in  and  about  the  Church  of  Monifieth.  The  last  sculptured  stones  discovered 
in  the  parish  were  two,  by  the  present  minister.  The  largest  has  a  beautiful 
large  cross  on  the  obverse,  the  spectacle  ornament  horizontal  near  the  top,  and 
perpendicular  crossed  by  the  sceptre  lower  down,  with  the  comb  and  other  figures 
on  the  reverse.  The  smaller  stone  has  a  fine  cross  on  the  reverse.  The 
obverse  is  divided  in  two  by  a  horizontal  line,  on  which  is  a  nondescript  animal 


376  ANGUS  OK  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

with  its  head  over  its  back  trying  to  catch  a  serpent  rearing  its  body  behind 
it ;  also  the  neck  and  head  of  a  deer  ;  over  these  are  two  curious  figures.  The 
lower  compartment  is  divided  into  two  sections,  in  one  of  which  is  a  monkish 
figure,  and  in  the  other  the  crescent  crossed  by  the  sceptre.  The  larger  stone 
was  found  in  the  interior  of  the  belfry,  and  the  smaller  in  a  dry  stone  wall 
near  the  manse. 

The  late  James  Neish  of  the  Laws,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Antiquaries,  Scotland,  applied  to  the  heritors  for  their  consent  to  send  the  large 
cross  and  all  the  sculptured  stones  to  the  Society's  Museum  in  Edinburgh,  and 
he  obtained  their  written  authority  to  have  them  sent  there.  They  were  re- 
moved accordingly,  and  are  now  there.  No  doubt  these  interesting  memorials 
are  safer  there  than  lying  about  the  church  in  Monifieth,  but  many  in  the 
parish  deplore  their  removal,  as  they  might  have  been  preserved  as  safely 
within  the  church,  as  the  grand  collection  of  sculptured  stones  at  St  Vigeans 
now  is.  We  would  suggest  that  where  such  stones  have  been  presented  to 
the  .Antiquarian  Society,  the  Society  should  have  good  casts  of  them  taken  and 
sent  to  the  donors,  that  the  natives  might,  from  the  copies,  have  a  knowledge 
of  the  originals. 

The  church  is  a  large,  plain  building,  with  a  square  tower  on  the  west 
gable,  which  rises  some  20  feet  above  the  ridge  of  the  church.  It  has  four 
large,  double-pointed  windows  in  front,  which  faces  the  south,  the  pulpit  being 
between  the  central  two.  There  is  a  large  gallery,  and  the  church  is  seated 
for  quite  a  thousand  people,  which  is  barely  sufficient  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  congregation.  In  the  last  three  months  of  1873  the  interior  of  the 
church  was  entirely  renovated  at  a  cost  of  about  £1000,  and  it  is  handsome 
and  comfortable.  The  great  window  to  the  west  of  the  pulpit  is  now  a 
memorial  window,  dedicated  to  the  late  Thomas  Erskine  of  Linlathen,  who 
died  in  1870.  The  window  is  by  Morris  &  Co.,  of  London.  It  cost  £325, 
which  was  raised  by  subscription,  to  which  a  long  list  of  Mr  Erskine's  literary 
friends  and  others  contributed.  The  window  has  been  viewed  with  admiration 
by  some  of  the  greatest  artists  of  our  country.  The  figures  are  admirably 
drawn,  the  colours  soft  and  mellow,  and  the  vine  leaves,  which  run  throughout 
the.  length  of  the  window,  give  it  a  fresh  yet  subdued  tone,  which  is  very 
pleasing  and  very  beautiful. 

Mr  Erskine  was  one  of  the  best  and  most  benovelent  of  men,  a  great  thinker, 
and  a  distinguished  writer  on  religious  subjects.  He  was  one  who,  by  the 
influence  of  his  character  and  his  writings,  had  done  as  much  as  any  man  of 


Chap.  XLV.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  377 

this  century  to  give  tone  and  direction  of  thought  on  the  great  subjects  of  what 
"  man  is  to  believe  concerning  God,  and  what  duty  God  requires  of  man." 
In  the  district  in  which  he  resided  he  was  loved  and  venerated  ;  in  Edinburgh, 
where  he  spent  a  considerable  part  of  his  time,  he  was  admired  and  esteemed  ; 
and  in  other  places  where  his  works  were  read,  and  his  character  properly 
known,  he  was  lauded  and  honoured. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  Dighty,  immediately  above  the  spot  where  the 
bridge  on  the  highway  between  Dundee  and  Arbroath  crosses  the  river,  a  stream 
of  pure  cool  water  issues  from  a  fountain  built  on  the  bank,  a  drinking  vessel 
being  attached.  Over  the  fountain  is  the  following  text  of  scripture : — 
"Whosoever  drinketh  of  this  water  shall  thirst  again"  (John  iv.,  v,  13). 
The  fountain  was  erected  by  MrErskine,  and  it  points  to  the  fountain  of  living 
waters  freely  offered  to  all  without  money  and  without  price,  of  which  he  was 
so  desirous  that  all  should  drink  and  obtain  everlasting  life.  The  fountain 
is  expressive  of  the  loving  sympathies  of  its  erector. 

The  graveyard,  which  surrounds  the  church,  is  enclosed  by  a  stone  wall. 
Mr  Erskine  and  some  of  the  members  of  the  family  are  buried  within  an  en- 
closure a  little  to  the  north  of  the  church.  Many  other  memorials  of  departed 
parishioners  and  others  are  within  the  graveyard,  some  of  which  are  imposing 
structures. 

Monifieth  is  a  word  of  Celtic  origin,  signifying  "  the  moss  of  the  stag,"  but 
however  appropriate  this  name  may  have  been  in  ancient  times,  when  what 
are  now  the  sandy  links  along  the  side  of  the  firth  were  a  moss,  it  is  not 
descriptive  of  the  parish  at  the  present  period,  as  there  is  no  moss  visible  on  the 
surface  of  the  land.  The  ancient  name  was  Monifuith,  Monefuit,  and  Moncfut. 
Underneath  the  "  downs  or  links,"  lies  a  deep  stratum  of  moss,  in  which  many 
deer's  horns  have  been  found.  According  to  tradition  King  David  I.  had  a 
favourite  hunting  ground  here,  and  the  horns  embedded  in  the  moss  may  have 
been  shed  about  the  period  when  he  reigned  and  hunted  in  the  parish. 

The  outline  of  the  parish  is  of  an  irregular  and  somewhat  oblong  shape, 
about  five  miles  long  by  from  one  and  a  half  to  three  and  a  half  miles  in  breadth, 
and  it  contains  6767*192  acres,  of  which  15-697  are  water,  and  799*587  fore- 
shore. The  Firth  of  Tay,  in  a  circular  form,  bounds  the  parish  on  the  south  ; 
on  the  east  it  is  bounded  by  Barry  and  Monikie,  on  the  north  by  Monikie,  and 
on  the  west  by  Murroes  and  Dundee.  The  coast  line^  which  is  about  three  and 
one  half  miles  in  length,  is  low  and  sandy. 

The  old  Statistical  Account  says: — "The  parish  seems  anciently  to  have 
3b 


378  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

been  of  less  extent  than  at  present.  Its  proportion  of  the  links  which  skirt 
the  coast  may  be  safely  supposed  above  400  acres,  and  seems  all  once  to  have 
been  covered  with  water.  Adjoining  to  these  links,  tradition  relates  that 
some  part  belonged  to  the  parish  of  Ferry-Port-on-Craig,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  estuary,  but  what  that  part  was,  or  when  the  separation  was  made,  it 
might  be  vain,  at  this  distance  of  time,  to  inquire." 

There  is  little  doubt  that  the  estuary,  at  some  distant  period,  included  the 
links  from  Broughty  eastward,  the  water  then  washing  the  raised  bank  which 
rises  somewhat  abruptly  immediately  outwith  the  sandy  downs.  It  may  be 
safely  averred  that  that  period  was  long  before  parishes  were  defined,  or  even 
thought  of. 

It  is  stated  by  some  writers  that  a  chapel  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  stood  in 
early  times  upon  the  bank  near  the  centre  of  the  Tay,  and  about  opposite  the 
Church  of  Monifieth,  known  as  the  Ladybank,  and  that  it  was  from  the  chapel 
the  bank  got  the  name  by  which  it  has  been  long  known.  The  bank  is  now 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  river  shore,  but  it  may  have  been  a 
peninsula  connected  with  the  land  at  a  time  long  past.  At  very  low  tides, 
from  a  point  about  halfway  between  Broughty  Castle  and  Monifieth  village, 
the  sands  are  dry  almost  as  far  as  the  outer  end  of  the  Ladybank, 

Within  the  observation  of  the  present  generation  the  river  is  making  great 
encroachments  upon  the  links  from  Broughty  Castle  eastward  to  the  Buddon- 
ness.  In  some  places  quite  fifty  feet  of  them  have  been  washed  away  within 
the  last  few  years.  A  little  before  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century  the 
Countess  of  Angus  gave  the  Abbot  of  Arbroath  a  toft  and  croft  of  land  at 
Monifieth,  lying  to  the  south  of  the  church  which  the  Culdees  held  in  her 
father's  time.  The  parish  church  of  Monifieth  stands  on  the  site  of  the  church 
of  the  Culdees.  In  those  days  grants  to  the  Church  were  given  with  a  liberal 
hand.  The  land  now  lying  between  the  church  and  the  river  is  comparatively 
but  a  narrow  stripe  of  worthless  land,  the  gift  of  which  by  the  Countess  would 
do  her  little  honour,  the  Abbey  little  good,  and  would  not  be  worth  recording 
in  their  chartulary.  We  believe  that  the  land  then  extended  much  farther 
south  than  it  does  now,  and  that  Monifieth  Bay,  if  it  existed  at  all,  was  then 
of  much  smaller  extent  than  it  is  now.  If  so,  the  links  were  then  so  much  more 
extensive. 

It  is  supposed  that  what  are  now  the  higher  links  were  cultivated,  or  fit  for 
cultivation  at  no  very  distant  period,  and  that  the  soil  consisted  of  dark  loam. 
Some  terrible  storm  of  wind  wafted  the  sand  from  the  river  or  river  bank,  and 


Chap.  XLV.]         ANGCJS  IN  PAEISHES— MONIFIETH.  379 

deposited  it  on  the  previous  soil.  In  the  cuttings  required  in  the  formation  of 
the  Direct  Forfar  Kailway  this  was  distinctly  seen.  The  black  soil  of  the 
original  surface,  was  seen  to  have  a  gradual  decline  towards  the  river,  over 
which  was  the  blown  sand,  deep  in  cutting  through  hillocks  but  thin  in  hollows. 
Some  obstruction,  such  as  a  bush,  had  arrested  the  blowing  sand  and  formed 
the  hillocks. 

The  old  Statistical  Account  says  : — *'  Up  to  1777,  before  salmon  began  to  be 
sent  to  London,  they  were  sold  in  the  parish,  and  in  Dundee  at  1-^d  per  pound. 
Since  that  period  salmon  had  not  been  sold  under  four  pence  per  lb."  The 
rent  of  the  salmon  fishings  in  the  parish  was  then  £130  per  annum. 

About  1780  the  white  fishing  on  this  coast  began  to  decline.  Haddocks, 
which  were  caught  in  greatest  abundance,  totally  left  the  coast,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  none  were  caught.  The  only  fish  caught  during  that  period 
were  ling  and  cod,  and  a  few  of  other  sorts.  When  the  report  was  written, 
1792-3,  the  haddocks  had  begun  to  make  their  appearance  again,  but  only  in 
small  quantities.  There  were  doubts  about  the  cause  of  the  disappearance  of 
the  haddocks,  whether  for  lack  of  food,  or  because  they  had  been  pursued  by 
some  voracious  enemy.  Porpoises,  or  gair-fish  as  they  were  then  called,  were 
very  numerous,  and  very  destructive  to  the  salmon.  They  may  have  disturbed 
and  frightened  the  haddocks. 

The  old  Account  also  says — "  There  were  three  villages  in  the  parish,  which 
were  thus  peopled— Drumsturdy  Moor,  134;  Monifieth,  175;  and  the  Ferry, 
250.  The  total  population  in  the  parish,  of  all  ages,  was  1218  persons,  and 
it  appears  that  at  no  former  period  was  it  greater  than  then."  Great  changes 
have  taken  place  in  the  parish  since  1793,  when  the  account  was  penned. 

The  parish,  in  common  with  most  of  the  others  in  the  county,  had  in  many 
respects  been  in  a  very  backward  state  up  to  nearly  the  end  of  the  first  half  of 
last  century.  The  account  given  in  the  old  Statistical  Report  regarding  the 
improvements  in  its  agriculture  by  Mr  Hunter,  the  proprietor  of  several  lands 
in  the  parish  shows  the  state  in  which  it  had  previously  been.  The  report 
very  properly  says  that  "  he  is  a  gentleman  whose  name  deserves  to  be  re- 
corded, as  it  was  entirely  owing  to  his  enlightened  spirit  that  the  change 
on  the  face  of  the  parish  had  been  made.^' 

"  Some  years  before  1750  he  began  to  enclose  land,  and  betwixt  1750  and 
1752  began  to  use  lime  as  a  manure.  In  1753  he  introduced  the  culture  of 
turnips,  and  in  the  following  year  that  of  potatoes.  By  fallow,  dung,  and  lime 
he  prepared  his  grounds  for  the  crop,  and  he  sowed  them  at  the  proper  season 


380  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

with  grass  seeds.  Now  had  his  fields  begun  to  assume  a  fairer  surface  and  a 
softer  mould ;  but  still  their  unpleasing  form  remained.  The  ridges  were 
wide  at  one  end,  narrow  at  the  other,  and  bent  in  various  curvatures.  They 
were  soon  rendered  regular  and  straight. 

"  His  fields  lay  beside  the  road  to  the  Parish  Church,  and  the  parishioners  as 
they  passed  beheld  their  beauty  and  fertility  with  wonder.  What  they  beheld 
they  imitated,  and  many  soon  saw  with  satisfaction  their  own  fields  covered 
with  a  similar  beauty  and  fertility.  The  old  Scottish  ploughs  were  dismissed 
apace,  and  there  was  not  then  one  in  the  parish." 

The  old  Account  of  Monifieth  parish  and  village  says  : — "  As  their  situa- 
tion is  so  salubrious,  that  multitudes  resort  every  summer  to  the  villages  of 
the  East  and  West  Ferry  for  the  benefit  of  sea-bathing,  as  the  employments 
of  few  are  sedentary,  as  the  ground  is  nowhere  marshy,  as  the  access  to  coals 
is  easy,  the  people  are  generally  healthy.  But  it  is  of  more  importance  to 
characterize  the  minds  than  the  bodies  of  a  people ;  it  is  of  more  importance 
to  be  told  that,  within  the  last  80  or  90  years,  the  parish  has  increased  as 
much  in  religion  and  morals  as  in  the  arts  of  life,"  &c. 

"  Mr  John  Dempster,  the  last  Episcopalian  clergyman  at  Monifieth,  had 
selected  seven  elders  from  among  the  numerous  proprietors  who  shared  the 
lands  of  the  parish,  but  whose  race  have  all  long  since  left  the  possessions  of 
their  fathers  and  are  gone ;  also  seven  deacons  from  among  the  tenants  to 
watch  over  the  state  of  the  poor.  There  appears  to  have  been  great  need  of 
surveillance,  as  little  regard  was  paid  to  the  Sabbath,  some  having  fished  with 
the  rod  or  net.  The  inns  were  well  patronised,  and  a  committee  had  to  go  to 
them  after  public  worship  to  perlustrate  them,  &c.,  &c.  Scarcely  was  there  a 
Sabbath  on  which  some  delinquent  was  not  justly  and  publicly  reproved.  By 
these  means  decency  and  devotion  began  to  reign,  and  the  people  were  then 
extremely  steady  in  their  religous  principles." 

"  In  the  year  1578  the  usual  collection  on  Sabbaths  was  eightpence  Scots,  or 
two-thirds  of  a  penny  sterling.  On  29th  June  of  that  year  the  poor  fund  was 
only  6s  6d  Scots,  or  6|d  sterling.  The  cottagers  then  gave  to  the  masters  of 
whom  they  held  their  little  hovels  all  the  children  they  needed  as  servants. 
The  rest  found  it  often  vain  to  apply  to  a  trade,  almost  every  man  being  his 
own  tradesman.  The  cravings  of  hunger  forced  them  out  to  beg  that  bread 
which  they  could  not  earn,  and  the  poor  preyed  on  the  poor." 

Before  1651  the  times  seem  to  have  improved.  The  usual  collection  on  Sab- 
bath that  year  was  4s  2d  Scots  or  4  2-1 2d  stg.     On  Sabbath,  23d  November, 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.-  MONIFIETH.  381 

1651,  the  parishioners  were  able  to  collect  £2  5s  stg.  for  the  support  of  their 
brethren  in  the  prison  of  Dundee,  who  had  been  taken  captive  by  the  English 
army  uuder  General  Monk,  as  they  passed  through  the  parish  to  the  siege  of 
that  town,  and  which  Mr  John  Barclay,  the  minister,  and  another  gentleman 
were  commissioned  to  carry. 

James  Beaton,  Postulate  of  Arbroath,  was,  in  November,  1549,  ordered  to 
find  security  to  "underly  the  laws  for  treasonable  intercommuning  with  Sir  John 
Dudley,  Englishman,  some  time  captain  of  the  fort  of  Broughty  Ferry,"  and 
persons  were  sent  to  Arbroath  "to  require  the  place  thereof  to  be  given  over  to 
my  Lord  Governor's  Grace,  because  Maister  James  Betoun  was  at  the  horn." 

In  the  first  volume  of  Epitaphs  and  Inscriptions,  p.  106,  it  is  said,  "  Truel 
Fair  at  the  Kirk  of  Kennethmont  and  at  Kirktoun  of  Monifieth  appears  under 
October  in  the  Edinburgh  Prognosticator  for  1706."  We  do  not  know  any- 
thing of  this  fair,  but  it  has  not  been  held  at  the  Kirktoun  of  Monifieth  for  very 
many  years, 

A  century  ago  there  was  then  only  one  threshing  machine  in  the  parish. 
The  other  farmers  employed  men  to  thrash  out  their  corn  called  lotmen,  who 
generally  resided  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  received  as  wages  the  twenty- 
fifth  boll  of  grain  they  thrashed  out,  with  breakfast  and  a  small  allowance  for 
dinner. 

On  6th  February,  1653,  a  schoolmaster  for  the  parish  of  Monifieth  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  heritors  and  session.  The  minute  of  appointment  shows  that 
he  was  to  have  for  his  maintenance  two  merks  yearly  for  every  plough  within 
the  parish,  one  half  to  be  then  paid  to  him,  and  the  other  half  at  first  August 
next,  and  so  on  at  Candlemas  and  Lammas.  The  number  of  ploughs,  being 
forty-seven,  were  given  up  as  follows  :  —Monifieth,  two ;  Burnside  and  Barn- 
hill,  four  ;  Balmossie,  three  ;  the  mills  of  Balmossie,  one ;  Forth,  one ;  Bal- 
gillo,  four ;  the  mill  of  Balgillo,  half  a  plough ;  Lumlethum,  sis  ;  Effibetoune, 
six  ;  Grange,  six  ;  Ardounie,  two ;  Laws,  two ;  Pidditie  and  Arsludie,  three  ; 
Kingennie,  two  ;  Legsland,  one  and  a  half ;  Finrack,  two ;  Omachie,  three. 
The  summation  of  these  is  forty-nine.  The  minister  agreed  to  pay  four  merks 
yearly  during  the  time  of  his  ministry  and  the  enjoying  of  his  stipend  at  the 
said  kirk.  It  was  agreed  that  every  gentleman's  child  should  give  thirty 
shillings  quarterly ;  every  husbandmen's  twenty  shillings,  if  he  be  able  to 
pay  it;  those  who  are  less  able,  thirteen  shillings  and  fourpence  in  the 
quarter.  Also,  that  every  person  of  good  quality  and  rank,  and  who  were 
able,  should  give  24s  Scots  at  their  marriage  or  proclamation,  whereof  the 


382  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIT. 

sclioolmaster  is  to  have  18s  and  the  beadle  6s,  Those  that  are  of  meaner 
quality  or  less  able  to  pay,  12s.  Strangers  living  without  the  parish  desiring 
a  burial  place  in  the  kirkyard  of  Monifieth  to  pay  the  schoolmaster  20s,  besides 
the  cost  of  the  grave  making  to  the  beadle.  Twelve  shillings  to  be  paid  at  the 
baptism  of  of  every  child,  8s  whereof  to  the  schoolmaster.  It  was  agreed  that 
next  summer  there  should  be  a  school,  with  a  chamber  for  the  schoolmaster, 
as  near  the  middle  of  the  parish  as  could  be  conveniently  got  "  upon  the 
charges  of  the  parishioners,"  the  particular  spot  to  be  settled  by  the  heritors 
and  other  persons  having  interest  thereinto.  That  the  scholars'  parents,  or 
others  who  have  nearest  interest  in  them,  shall  bring  in  the  summer  season 
peats,  coals,  or  turfs  to  the  school  for  the  use  of  the  schoolmaster  and  bairns 
in  the  winter  season,  and  that  proportionally  according  to  their  rank  and 
condition.  Further,  it  was  agreed  that  the  schoolmaster  should  have  liberty 
to  remove  at  any  Candlemas  or  Lammas  thereafter,  provided  that  he  intimate 
the  same  to  the  session  forty  days  before  his  removal.  It  ^vas  agreed  that 
all  heritors,  husbandmen,  and  labourers  of  the  land  sign  the  minute  obliging 
themselves  to  fulfil  the  premises. 

John  Urquhart,  the  schoolmaster,  to  get  a  copy  for  his  security,  subscribed 
by  James,  Lord  Couper ;  William  Durhame,  elder  of  Grange ;  Alexander 
Wedderburne  of  Kingennie  ;  Michael  Ramsay  of  Forth ;  James  Durham  of 
Ardounie,  heritors  ;  Mr  John  Barclay,  minister ;  Hugh  Maxwill,  Hendrie  Dog, 
William  ]\Iill,  James  Nicoll,  elders  ;  and  other  elders  and  deacons  who  could 
not  subscribe  gave  their  consent  thereunto. 

A  MS.  at  Panmure,  without  date,  docketed  "  rentalls  of  Monifieth,"  by  Earl 
Patrick,  who  died  in  1654,  contains  the  following  rentals  of  West  Ferry  and 
Monifieth,  which  must  be  of  a  date  prior  to  1654.     The  money  is  Scots : — 

Rentall  of  the  west  ferrie  yearly  q'^  it  was  in  my  Lord  balmerino  possessione, 
and  the  which  rentall  is  now  agmented  by  the  laird  of  Powrie — 
Item  payed  be  David  Roger,  elder,  to  my  Lord  Balmerino  for 

ane  aiker  of  land,  with  the  tend  yrof  and  ane  house,  .       020  :  00  :  0 

Item  payed  be  John  Ramsay  and  Isobell  Knight,  his  spouse, 

for  ane  aiker  of  land,  wt  the  tend  yrof  and  ane  house,  020  :  00  :  0 

Item  be  them  ane  singell  toft,  .....      005  :  08  :  0 
Item  be  Isobell  Archor  for  ane  aiker  of  land,  with  the  teind  yrof 

and  ane  hous,  .  .  .  .  .  020  :  00  : 0 

Item  be  Issobell  Hay  for  ane  aiker  of  land;  with  the  teind  yrof 

and  ane  hous, 020  :  00  :  0 


Chap.  XLY.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH. 


383 


Item  be  Henrie  Knight  for  ane  aiker  of  land,  with  the  teind 

yrof  and  ane  hons,       ..... 
Item  be  Isobell  Charters,  widow,  for  ane  aiker  of  land,  with  the 

teind  yrof  and  ane  hous,   .... 
Item  be  Grissell  Smyth  and  her  spouse  for  ane  aiker  of  land 

with  the  teind  yrof  and  ane  hous, 
Item  be  them  ane  singell  toft, 
Item  be  Isobell  Charters,  and  sometyme  be  Johne  Howathsone 

ane  aiker,  with  teind  and  ane  house,    . 
Item  be  Thomas  beatoun  for  ane  singell  toft,  . 
Item  be  David  Eodger,  younger,  ane  double  toft,    . 
Item  be  Thomas  Andersone  ane  singell  toft,    . 
Item  be  ffindla  Johnstoun  ane  singell  toft. 
Item  be  WiHiam  Knight  ane  double  toft. 
Item  be  Hendrie  Knight,  James  Abbiit,  George  Sandersone 

and  Thomas  beatoun  for  the  salmond  fishing  of  the  west 

crook  belonging  to  the  flferrie, 
Item  be  tennents  in  the  west  iferrie  forsaids  are  obleidged  to 

furnish  to  my  Lord's  house  all  sorts  of  whyt  fish  in  the 

summer  seasone  at  ten  shilling  for  the  hundredth,  and 

threttein  shilling  four  penyes  in  winter  and  feby. ;  haddocks 

at  on  lb.  6s  8d  pr  hunder. 


The  summation  in  the  document  is  £148  12s  6d. 


020  :  00  :  0 

020  :  00  :  0 

020  :  00  :  0 
005  :  08  :  0 

020  :  00  :  0 
005  :  08  :  0 
010  :  16  :  0 
005  :  08  :  0 
005  :  08  :  0 
010  :  16  :  0 


040  :  00  :  0 


248  :  12  :  0 


Item  payd  for  the  maines  of  Balumbie,  ten  Chalder  victuall, 
viz..  Item  of  bear,  Item  of  wheitt,  Item  of  meall,  Item  of 
money,  rent  thrie  hundreth  merks,  .  .  .       200  :  00  :  0 

Eental  of  my  Lord  Balmerino's  lands  in  Anguse,  silver  dewties. 
Payed  be  the  bonnet  makers  for  the  waulk  mill,  .  .  lib. 022  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  John  Airth  for  the  Lavorik  Land,  .  .  010  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Margaret  Whyt  for  her  house,  .  .  .      001  :  06  :  8 

Payed  be  David for  his  hous,  .  .  .  006  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Henrie  Scott,  younger,  ....      001  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Pa  :  Jack  for  ane  hous  and  a  yaird,        .  .  001  :  10  :  0 

Payed  be  James  gaivane  for  his  hous  and  chope,         .  .      002  :  00  :  0 


384                               ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Pakt  XIY. 

Payed  be  James  Lovell  for  bis  hous  and  cbope,      .  .       lib.003  :  00  :  0 

More  payed  be  James  gaivane  for  ane  house  formerly  possest 

be  Margaret  Smairt, 001  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Mitcbell  guild, 003  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Cristane  Jack  for  the  maill  of  ane  house,      .            .  001  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Alexr.  Carmicbell  for  his  hous,    .            .            .  007  :  06  :  8 

Payed  be  Henry  Whytlaw  for  ane  house,         .            .            .  005  :  13  :  4 

Payed  be  Pa :  Key, 001  :  00  :  0 

Payed  be  Alexr.  milne  for  ane  house,               .            .            .  001  :  10  :  8 


067:    7:4 


The  summation  in  the  document  is  £113  16s  Sd. 
Payed  be  laird  of  Grange  for  his  fishings  of  gall  and  budden 

fourtie  seven  pound,  .....       047  :  00  :  0 

Besides  the  "  Bentall  of  the  West  ferrie,"  and  the  "silver  dewties"  given 
above,  the  same  paper  contains  a  list  of  payments  to  Lord  Balmerino  in  bear, 
meal,  capons,  hens,  chickens,  and  geese.  These  were  paid  by  five  different 
tenants — 1,  Alex.  Kid,  for  third  part  of  Barnhill  and  Balmossie  Mill;  2, 
Thomas  Miller,  for  part  of  Barnhill ;  3,  David  Pattillock,  who  also  paid  12 
bolls  wheat  for  Balmossie  ;  4,  John  Bull,  for  Burnside ;  5,  "  The  Bonnet 
Makers  for  the  Walke  ]\Iilne." 

The  total  rental  of  Lord  Balmerino's  lands  in  Angus  a  short  time  before 
1645,  but  the  precise  year  is  not  known,  amounted  to  the  sum  of  £509  8s  8d. 
These  lands  were  chiefly  in  the  parish  of  Monifieth.  In  this  sum  was  included 
twenty-two  pounds  of  silver  duties  payed  by  the  bonnetmaker  craft  of  Dundee  for 
their  waulk  mills,  situated  on  the  Diglity,  and  near  its  mouth.  The  sum  also 
included  forty  pounds  for  the  salmon  fishing  of  West  Crook  belonging  to  the 
Ferry,  and  forty-seven  pounds  for  the  laird  of  Grange's  fishings  of  Gall 
and  Buddon.  Besides  the  money  rent,  the  tenents  also  paid  in  kind,  bear, 
meal,  hens,  capons,  chickens,  and  geese. 

From  what  we  have  said  it  will  be  seen  that  Monifieth  has  undergone  many 
changes  in  its  time.  The  first  time  we  meet  with  the  name  is  as  a  seat  of  the 
Culdees,  the  first  "  servants  of  God  "  who,  in  early  days,  preached  Christ  and 
Him  crucified  to  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  Wales.  It 
was  then,  in  the  early  part  of  the  twelfth  century,  part  of  the  vast  territories 
of  the  Celtic  Maormers  and  Earls  of  Angus.      How  long  it  had  before  that 


Chap.  XLV.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES,— MON]FIETH.  835 

period  been  a  seat  of  the  CuldeeSj  or  how  long  it  had  been  the  property  of 
these  Maormers,  we  cannot  tell,  nor  can  we  give  any  description  of  the  place 
in  those  times.  There  must  have  been  a  church  and  buildings,  perhaps  called 
an  abbey,  for  the  residence  of  the  Culdee  monks ;  with,  probably,  a  village 
around,  or  clustering  in  the  shade  of  the  monastery. 

When  the  Church  of  Monifieth  was  gifted  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  (1201- 
1207)  by  Earl  Gilchrist,  the  Abbot  of  Arbroath  would  send  Komish  monks  to 
take  possession  of,  and  officiate  in  the  church  ;  but  whether  the  Culdee  monks 
coalesced  with  their  Eomish  brethren,  or  were  expelled,  is  unknown.  The 
church,  with  so  much  of  the  abbey  as  was  required  for  the  officiating  priests 
and  others  necessary  for  conducting  the  services,  and  the  village  would  doubt- 
less remain.  The  Earls  of  Angus  appear  to  have  had  close  connection  with 
Monifieth,  and  they  may  have  had  a  castle  in  the  vicinity  in  which  to  reside 
when  they  visited  their  maritime  lands  for  sea  bathing  or  other  purposes. 
There  is  nothing  known  of  any  residence  of  theirs  in  the  county. 

The  Abbots  of  Arbroath  kept  their  hold  of  the  Church  of  Monifieth,  and 
the  others  which  had  been  gifted  to  them,  until  the  Eeformation.  During 
their  long  possession  the  changes  in  the  aspect  of  the  place  had  probably  not 
varied  much.  Nor  would  the  Reformed  Church,  whether  Episcopalian  or 
Presbyterian,  lead  to  much  alteration  in  this  respect.  The  villagers  would, 
throughout  the  whole  period,  consist  of  small  farmers  or  crofters,  tradesmen 
required  for  local  purposes,  and  the  fishermen,  who  were  located  chiefly  at 
Broughty  Ferry.  The  numbers  of  these  would  not  vary  much.  The  towns 
of  North  Ferry  and  Monifieth  are  mentioned  by  Monipennie  in  1612,  p.  170. 

Until  a  comparatively  recent  time  the  village  of  Monifieth,  which  lay  chiefly  to 
the  east  of  the  church,  consisted  of  a  number  of  turf  huts,  for  they  hardly  deserve 
the  name  of  houses,  thatched,  and  with  small  windows,  such  as  may  still  be 
seen  on  Barry  Links,  at  a  short  distance  to  the  eastward  of  the  village.  Such  a 
population,  with  little  education,  and  no  exciting  events  to  rouse  their  dormant 
energies,  would  go  through  the  routine  of  their  little  duties  from  day  to  day 
and  year  to  year  in  a  sort  of  sleepy  hollow,  without  progression  in  any  way. 
This  lethargic  state  came  to  an  end  during  the  second  and  third  decades  of 
this  century. 

In  the  year  1811  a  work  for  the  manufacture  of  machinery  was  started  in 

the  village  by  James  Low  and  Robert  Fairweather.    The  infant  establishment 

was  begun  on  a  small  scale,  and  for  a  time  its  growth  was  slow  ;  but  from 

then  till  now  it  has  lived  and  been  a  growing  concern.       Flax  spinning  by 

3c 


33G  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

machinery  was  in  its  youth  when  this  work  commenced,  but  it  gradually  ex- 
tended, imtil  the  district  was  dotted  with  small  mills  wherever  there  was  a 
waterfall  sufficient  to  turn  a  few  spindles.  As  flax  spinning  extended,  the 
machine  work  progressed,  and  the  first  card  made  in  the  district  for  flax  tow 
was  by  these  engineers,  in  1815.  The  above-mentioned  James  Low,  who  was 
the  grandfather  of  the  present  proprietor  of  the  works,  died,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  William  Low,  who  carried  on  the  work  until  his  death,  on  2d 
February,  1840.  The  work  was  thereafter  carried  on  by  James  Kennedy  for 
behoof  of  the  family  of  William  Low  till  1849,  when  James  Fairweather  Low 
assumed  the  management.  It  is  now  carried  on  by  the  said  James  F.  Low  and 
his  brother,  Samuel  Miller  Low.  The  work  has  been  in  operation  for  72  years, 
and  it  has  become  a  large  and  thriving  concern.  It  is  now  known  as  Moni- 
fieth  Foundry,  and  about  300  operatives  have  steady  employment  at  the  various 
departments  of  the  work.  The  machinery  sent  out  by  Mr  Low  has  made  him 
and  his  work  known  in  all  parts  of  the  world  where  flax  or  jute  is  spun.  The 
Lows  have  been  in  Monifieth  for  300  years,  and  four  generations  of  them 
have  been  connected  with  the  engineering  works,  the  great-grandfather  of 
the  present  proprietor  having  been  in  them  for  a  time. 

James  Fairweather  Low  married  Grace-Margaret,  daughter  of  James  Cox 
of  Clement  Park,  Lochee,  and  of  Cardean,  and  the  barony  of  Baikie,  in  Strath- 
more  ;  senior  partner  of  Cox  Brothers,  and  lately  Provost  of  Dundee.  By  her 
he  has  one  son  and  five  daughters.  Samuel  Miller  Low  married  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Dr  Lyell,  mentioned  below,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons  and  four 
daughters. 

In  1873  another  branch  of  industry  was  introduced  into  Monifieth,  viz., 
that  of  jute  spinning.  James  Carmichael  Lyell  and  Charles  Lyell  erected  the 
Monifieth  Jute  Works  on  ground  to  the  south  of  the  railway.  At  this  work 
about  400  hands  obtain  regular  employment.  The  proprietors  are  sons  of 
Dr  Lyell,  who  was  for  about  forty  years  a  physician  in  Dundee.  In  1873  he 
retired  from  practice  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Monifieth.  On  his  retire- 
ment he  was  presented  with  a  testimonial  by  his  old  patients  and  his  personal 
friends,  consisting  of  £1000  and  some  silver  plate.  He  died  in  January,  1881. 
James  C.  Lyell  married  Katherine  Latham,  daughter  of  George  Latham,  C.E, 

Early  in  this  century  John  Davidson  commenced  the  business  of  cart  and 
plough  Wright  in  the  village,  and  he  acquired  some  celebrity  in  his  trade.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son-in-law,  William  Young,  and  the  work  has  been  con- 
tinued. 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES— MONIFIETH.  387 

The  introduction  of  local  industrial  establishments  into  the  village  has 
transformed  it  from  a  squalid  unsightly  spot,  into  a  tidy  village,  with  streets  of 
well-built  stone  houses,  having  slated  roofs.  There  are  some  good  shops  where 
most  of  the  necessaries,  and  some  of  the  luxuries,  of  life  can  be  obtained.  On 
the  rising  ground  to  the  north  of  the  village  there  are  many  handsome  villas, 
the  residences  of  the  proprietors  of  the  industrial  establishments,  and  of  others 
who  have  chosen  the  place  for  a  residence.  Tl^  villas  are  surrounded  with 
fine  gardens,  with  conservatories,  vineries,  lawns,  and  shrubbery,  and  some  of 
them  are  "  things  of  beauty." 

In  the  northern  district  of  the  parish  there  is  an  abundant  supply  of  excel- 
lent freestone,  very  suitable  for  building  purposes,  and  in  several  places 
extensive  quarrying  operations  are  carried  on.  The  quarry  at  one  time  called 
Legsland,  but  now  known  as  Wellbank  Quarry,  has  been  in  operation  for  more 
than  three  hundred  years,  as  it  is  mentioned  in  the  Session  Eecords  of  the 
parish  on  3d  June,  1574.  The  quarry  is  yet  far  from  being  exhausted.  In 
the  southern  district  a  whinstoue  or  trap  rock  prevails,  but  it  is  of  little  value,  as, 
when  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  it  becomes  friable  and  crumbles  down  to  dust. 

There  are  two  Free  Churches  in  the  parish,  the  first,  erected  after  the  Dis- 
ruption in  1843,  being  at  the  Hillock,  in  the  northern  district.  The  other,  in 
the  village  of  Monifieth,  in  the  southern  district,  was  erected  about  1870. 
The  former  is  a  plain  but  comfortable  building,  and  the  latter  is  rather  more 
ornate.  At  each  church  there  is  an  excellent  manse  and  a  large  garden.  A 
large  and  handsome  school  and  schoolhouse  was  erected  by  the  School  Board 
at  Monifieth,  and  opened  on  Monday,  30th  September,  1878  ;  and  there  is 
another  Board  school  and  schoolhouse  at  Mattocks,  in  the  northern  district  of 
the  parish. 

Immediately  to  the  south  of  the  parish  church,  on  ground  which  once  be- 
longed to  the  ancient  Culdees,  a  hall  has  been  erected,  the  primary  purpose  of 
which  is  to  serve  as  a  Sabbath  School,  and  to  provide  accommodation  for 
advanced  classes  for  religious  instruction.  The  proposal  originated  at  a  meet- 
ing held  in  the  church  on  16th  November,  1880,  when  the  congregation 
assembled  to  commemorate  the  25th  anniversary  of  Dr  Young's  induction  as 
minister  of  the  parish,  and  to  present  him  with  a  substantial  token  of  their 
respect  and  esteem.  Part  of  this  presentation  consisted  of  a  sum  of  money, 
which  Dr  Young  devoted  to  the  erection  of  such  a  Sunday  School  Hall  as  might 
prove  a  model  for  other  parishes,  on  condition  that  a  sufScient  sum  was  other- 
wise raised  to  complete  the  undertaking.     The  proposal  was  warmly  responded 


388  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIHE.  [Part  XIV. 

to,  the  money  raised,  tlie  hall  completed,  and  opened  on  25th  December, 
1882. 

The  hall  is  a  large  and  handsome  building,  68  feet  in  length  from  east  to 
west,  by  37  feet  broad,  and  will  comfortably  accommodate  600  scholars.  It 
is  Gothic  of  the  13th  century,  in  the  form  of  a  nave,  with  an  aisle  on  the 
north  side  separated  by  four  bays.  The  piers  are  octagonal,  with  carved 
capitals.  At  the  east  end  there  are  a  library  and  a  classroom,  beyond  which 
is  a  keeper's  house  and  all  necessary  conveniences.  The  interior  has  been 
fitted  up  in  American  fashion,  with  moveable  partitions  attached  to  the  walls, 
which  can  be  formed  into  separate  classrooms,  or,  in  a  few  moments,  folded 
close  into  the  walls,  when  the  whole  area  is  available  for  any  public  purpose. 
On  16th  May,  1882,  the  central  pier  of  the  edifice  was  laid,  and  a  writing  was 
deposited  within  the  pier,  explaining  the  origin  and  purpose  for  which  the  hall 
had  been  erected.  The  last  words  of  the  writing  were,  "  May  the  Divine  bless- 
ing rest  on  this  work,  which  has  been  undertaken  to  promote  the  cause  of  the 
Christian  education  of  the  young." 

The  building  will  hold  an  important  part  among  the  ecclesiastical  edifices 
in  the  parish.  Externally  it  is  chaste  and  a  great  ornament  to  the  village,  the 
appearance  of  which  is  much  improved  by  the  elegant  hall,  and  the  neat  lofty 
spire  by  which  it  is  surmounted.  The  site  is  admirable,  the  edifice  being  well 
seen,  and  its  associations  carry  us  back  to  a  remote  period  when  the  Pictish 
race  occupied  the  ground,  and  the  Culdees  were  the  teachers  of  the  people  ;  or 
to  a  still  more  remote  time  when  no  Christian  missionaries  had  reached  the 
Tay,  and  when  the  Druids  taught  their  mysteries  to  an  ignorant  race. 

We  are  not  aware  whether  or  not  the  new  hall  has  yet  been  named.  With 
the  Rev.  Dr  Young,  the  respected  minister  of  the  parish,  the  conception  of  the 
hall  originated  ;  under  his  fostering  care  the  fabric  was  begun,  steadily  carried 
on,  and  finally  successfully  completed.  To  the  rev.  Doctor,  aided  by  many  kind 
friends,  the  inhabitants  of  Monifieth  are  indebted  for  their  beautiful  hall,  and 
his  name  ought  to  be  permanently  associated  with  it. 

Several  streams  run  through,  or  for  some  distance  bound  the  parish.  The 
largest  of  these  is  the  Dighty.  It  rises  in  the  Lundie  lakes,  flows  easterly, 
and  entering  Monifieth,  runs  about  two  miles  through  the  parish,  and  falls 
into  the  Tay  at  the  Milton  of  Monifieth.  In  this  part  of  its  course  it  flows 
through  the  beautiful  grounds  of  Linlathen.  In  the  early  decades  of  this 
century  it  was  a  pure  pellucid  stream,  and  well  stocked  with  trout,  but  now, 
owing  to  the  numerous  bleachfields  on  its  banks  and  other  causes,  the  water 


Chap.  XLV.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  389 

is  greatly  contaminated,  having  more  the  appearance  of  milk  than  water,  and 
in  the  lower  half  of  its  course  not  a  trout  is  to  he  found. 

The  Murroes  burn  rises  in  Petterden,  on  the  south  side  of  Lawrence  Hill, 
has  a  south-easterly  course  through  part  of  Tealing  and  Murroes  parishes,  then 
southerly  through  the  Den  and  past  the  Church  of  Murroes,  and  for  a  mile  it 
is  the  boundary  between  the  parishes  of  Dundee  and  Monifieth,  when  it  falls 
into  the  Dighty.  In  the  latter  part  of  its  course  it  is  called  the  Lammerton 
burn. 

The  Buddon  burn  rises  in  the  eastern  district  of  the  parish  of  Murroes,  runs 
past  Newbigging,  dividing  in  its  lower  course  the  parish  of  Barrie  from 
this  parish,  and  falls  into  the  estuary  of  the  Tay,  There  are  some  pretty  bits 
of  scenery  in  its  upper  course,  but  after  passing  Balhungie  and  entering  the 
links  it  is  a  sluggish  stream,  devoid  of  beauty. 

In  the  letter  by  Sir  David  Carnegie  of  Kinnaird  to  George  Chalmers 
(Caledonia),  28th  November,  1799,  mentioned  in  the  end  of  the  chapter  on 
Mary  ton,  he  refers  to  the  anxiety  about  the  state  of  the  crops,  and  anticipates 
great  scarcity  and  distress  the  following  summer.  The  Author  has  often  heard 
his  parents  speak  of  the  great  privations  the  poor  then  suffered.  The  follow- 
ing is  copy  of  a  letter  from  "Honest"  George  Dempster  of  Dunnichen,  M.P.  for 
the  Forfar,  Perth,  Dundee,  &c.,  district  of  Burghs  from  1769  to  1784:— 

"  Dunnichen,  Forfar,  7th  May,  1800. 

"  Gentlemen, 

"  The  following  Commission  is  probably  out  of  your  Line  of  Business  ; 
nevertheless,  the  motives  of  it  will  be  my  excuse.  The  Principal  Inhabitants 
of  this  parish  have  associated  themselves  to  find  Food  for  the  People  in  it  for 
the  next  four  months  ;  its  own  stock  being  quite  exhausted.  They  wish  to 
try  at  what  price  Barley  can  be  had  from  your  port,  and  have  employed  me 
to  commission  from  thence  Ten  Quarters  of  the  lowest  priced  Barley  which 
your  Broker  can  find,  that  is  not  musty,  and  Two  Quarters  of  the  very  best 
quality,  being  in  doubts  whether  the  best  may  not,  in  the  long  run,  be  the 
cheapest,  as  is  not  unusual  in  other  Cases.  It  is  much  wished  that  this  Com- 
mission would  be  sent  down,  addressed  to  me,  to  the  care  of  Mr  P.  Guthrie, 
merch*^'  Dundee,  by  the  very  first  vessel  despatched  for  Dundee  or  Perth. 

"  I  shall  of  course  hope  for  advices  from  you  of  the  purchase,  price,  and  con- 
veyance, and  Time  of  payment ;  distinguishing  the  two  different  kinds.  Some 
distinguishing  mark  should  also  be  put  on  the  Bags  containing  the  finest.  Be 
pleased  also  to  send  me  Two  Sacks  of  the  Coarsest,  but  not  ill  tasted,  Flour, 


390  ANGUS  OR  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

and  for  my  family  use  one  Sack  of  the  Finest.      I  need  not  recommend  dis- 
patch, as  it  is  literally  on  Life  and  Death. 

"  I  am,  with  great  respect, 
Gentlemen, 

Tour  most  obedient,  humble 
Servant, 

«  GEORGE  DEMPSTER. 
Messrs  Lyon  &  Jobson, 
Merchants,  London." 
The  letter  is  dated  7th  May,  and  marked  received  on  12th,  being  five  days  on 
the  way.     It  is  marked  "  answered,  15th  May." 

The  letter  we  received  too  late  to  give  it  in  the  chapter  on  Dunnichen.  The 
grandfather  of  the  writer  of  the  letter,  John  Dempster,  was  minister  of  Monifieth 
from  1675  till  his  death  in  1710.  He  was  the  last  Episcopal  minister  of 
Monifieth.  George  Dempster  of  Dunnichen,  his  son,  was  proprietor  of  Ethie- 
beaton.  Hillock,  Laws,  and  other  lands  in  this  parish,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  interred  in  the  church  of  Monifieth.  Seeing  the  interest  the  Dempsters 
had  in  Monifieth,  we  think  we  may  well  include  the  letter  in  the  chapter  on 
Monifieth. 

The  lands  and  barony  of  Ardownie,  which  included  those  of  Ashludie,  be- 
longed to  Hugh,  Earl  of  Ormond,  and  were  forfeited  on  7th  October,  1458. 
They  were  then  given  to  William  Moneypenny.  In  a  charter  of  them  to  Sir 
William  Moneypenny,  knight,  dated  9th  November,  1458,  William,  Lord 
Moneypenny,  was  next  in  succession  to  Ardownie  and  other  lands  mentioned 
in  the  charter.  Alexander,  Lord  Moneypenny,  had  a  charter  of  the  lands  of 
Ardownie  on  his  father's  resignation,  dated  20th  March,  1483-4.  Alexander, 
having  no  family,  in  1495  exchanged  his  barony  with  Sir  Alexander  Bruce  of 
Earlshall,  in  Fife,  for  lands  in  France.  We  do  not  know  how  long  this  family 
retained  them. 

Henry  Ramsay  of  Ardownie  was  one  of  an  assize  in  1560,  and  of  another  in 
1568  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  pp.  310  and  314).  The  lands  of  Ardownie  were  acquired 
by  tb.e  Llaules.  Thomas  Maule  of  Pitlivie,  son  of  Sir  Thomas  Maule,  and 
Margaret  Lichton,  his  spouse,  had  a  charter  of  half  the  lands  of  Ardownie  on 
20th  March,  1594  (Doug.  II.  353). 

Jervise  says : — "  Arsludie,  now  Ashludie,  formed  part  of  the  estate  of  the 
Grange  of  Monifieth,  and  was  occupied  in  1692  by  John  Durham,  '  whose 


Chap,  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  391 

house  was  burned  in  the  nicht,  and  he  in  it '  (Session  Eecord,  per  J.  Neish, 
Esq.)."    (E.  and  I.,  I.,  p.  112). 

The  lands  were  subsequently  acquired  by  Archibald  Murrray,  who  also 
owned  Ashludie.  He  sold  them  to  the  Durhams  of  Grange  of  Monifieth  in 
1642.  Durham  resold  the  land  to  Alexander  Duncan,  who  was  designed  of 
Ardownie.  He  got  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  these  lands  in  1695. 
Ochterlony  says  Durham  owned  Ardownie  1684-5.  He  was  a  field  officer 
under  the  Earl  of  Panmure  at  the  battle  of  Sheriifmuir  in  1715.  His  widow, 
Isabel  Graham,  died  in  Dundee  in  1799,  aged  86  years.  His  brother  James 
was  a  lieut.  in  the  same  regiment.  David,  a  son  of  Alexander  Duncan,  was  a 
merchant  in  Dundee.  He  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  James  Smith  of  Camno, 
who  died  in  1739.  The  Smiths  of  Camno  afterwards  acquired  a  part  of  the 
estate  of  Auchinleck,  in  Monikie,  and  called  it  Smithfield. 

George  Cullen  had  a  charter  of  Ardownie  and  Ashludie  in  1700.  Alex- 
ander Duncan,  eldest  son  of  Alexander  Duncan  of  Ardownie,  acquired  the 
lands  held  by  his  father,  Ardownie  and  Ashludie,  on  28th  July,  1724.  Same 
year  he  acquired  Omachie  from  Lord  Douglas.  He  sold  Ardownie,  Ashludie, 
and  part  of  Baldovie  to  Thomas  Mylne  of  Mylnefield  in  1758.  He  sold  these 
lands  to  Sir  James  Eamsay,  Bart.,  of  Bamff  in  1788.  On  31st  October,  1769, 
Sir  James  purchased  the  town  and  lands  of  Baldovie,  in  Monifieth  parish,  from 
George  Dempster  of  Dunnichen.  The  lands  of  Ashludie  were  bought  from 
Sir  George  Ramsay,  Bart.,  of  Bamfi"  by  Alexander  Gordon,  flaxspinner  in 
Arbroath,  in  1864.  He  erected  a  handsome  mansion  on  the  estate,  and  the 
grounds  surrounding  it  were  finely  laid  out,  and  they  are  now  very  beautiful. 

Mr  Gordon  married  Miss  Lindsay  of  Tarrie,  and  by  her  has  four  sons  and 
two  daughters.  The  estate  of  Ardownie  now  belongs  to  Sir  James  Henry 
Ramsay,  Baronet,  of  Bamff,  near  Alyth. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  Ardownie  is  entered  at  £400,  and  old  do. 
£166  13s  4d  ;  but  in  the  Cess  Book  of  1748  and  since,  the  lands  have  been 
entered  at  £666  13s  4d.  On  20th  May  this  cumulo  was  divided,  thus  Ardownie 
and  Ashludie  and  Meadows,  holding  off  the  Crown,  £530  2s  lOd ;  Baldovie 
holding  of  a  subject  superior,  £136  10s  6d=£666  13s  4d.  In  the  new  Roll 
attached  to  the  old,  both  divisions  stand  in  name  of  Sir  James  Ramsay,  Bart. 

Monifieth  was  a  thanedom.  In  the  year  1220  Malcolm,  Earl  of  Angus, 
gave  Nicholas,  the  priest  of  Kirriemuir,  and  his  heirs  the  Abthein  lands  of 
Monifieth.    In  1374  the  Depute- Justiciar  ordered  the  teinds  of  the  King's 


392  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

farms,  both  money  and  grain  of  his  thanage  lands  of  Monifieth  and  Menmuir, 
and  his  other  lands  to  be  paid  to  the  Prior  of  Eesteneth. 

Robert  I.  granted  to  Malisius  Menteith  a  charter  of  the  davache  land  of 
Ballygillachy  (In.  to  Oh.  15-6)  ;  also  a  charter  to  the  same  person  of  the 
lands  of  Ballgillachie  (do.,  18-63) ;  also  a  charter  to  Patricii  Capitalis,  medica, 
of  the  lands  of  Ballegillachie,  in  the  thanedom  of  Monyfieth  (do.,  18-70). 
Monifieth  being  a  thanedom,  the  lands  within  it  were  held  oflF  the  Crown. 
The  charter  of  the  lands  of  Balgillo  to  the  King's  physician  is  the  earliest 
proprietary  notice  of  Balgillo  in  Monifieth  with  which  we  have  met.  The  two 
charters  to  M.  Monteith  may  have  been  of  Balgillo  in  Tannadice. 

David  II.  gave  Thomas  Eaythe  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Balgillachie,  in 
vie.  de  Forfar  (In.  to  Ch.,  65-10.)  Do.,  88-237  is  a  charter  by  the  same  King 
to  Thome  de  Rate  of  the  lands  of  Balgillachy,  of  which  Gilbert  M'Beth,  the 
physician,  brother  and  heir  of  "  Ectoris  medicia  regis"  resigned.  The  charter 
is  dated  at  Montrose,  23d  October,  1369.  Robert  II.  in  1390  gave  Alexander 
de  Lindsay  a  charter  of  the  superiority  of  Balgillow,  which  had  belonged  to 
Thomas  de  Rate  (do.,  125-1).  A  AVilliam  de  Gom-lay  de  Balgally,  in  Angus, 
did  homage  to  Edward  I.  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed  (Reg.  RoU.,  126).  David 
11.  (1329-70)  gave  a  charter  of  excambion  to  Andrew  Buttergask  of  the  lands 
of  Stormond  and  Cluny,  in  Perthshire,  to  him,  for  the  lands  of  Ballgillie,  in 
Angus  (In.  to  Ch.,  56-12).  We  do  not  know  to  which,  Balgillo,  Monifieth, 
or  Tannadice,  the  two  last  paragraphs  refer. 

The  lands  of  Balgillo  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  Wishart  of  Pit- 
tarrow.  On  his  forfeiture,  from  what  cause  is  unknown,  in  1499,  the  property 
was  acquired  by  Andrew,  third  Lord  Gray,  who  had  charter  of  Balgillo,  29th 
June,  1499.  He  had  previously  been  appointed  Sheriff  of  Angus,  and,  on  the 
resignation  of  Archibald,  Earl  of  Angus,  had  got  a  charter  of  Broughty  on 
26th  June,  1490,  and  afterwards,  in  1496,  built  a  castle  on  the  rock. 

Patrick,  fourth  Lord  Gray,  Sheriff  of  Angus,  had  charter  of  Balgillo, 
Broughty,  Gotterston,  and  Kingslaw,  with  the  customs  of  Dundee,  on  16th 
April,  1524.  He  died  in  1541.  Patrick,  son  of  Andrew  Gray  of  Muirton, 
had  a  charter  of  Balgillo  on  7th  June,  1540  (do.  669). 

On  28th  April,  1542,  Patrick,  fifth  Lord  Gray,  nephew  of  the  fourth  Lord, 
had  charter  of  Broughty,  Gotterston,  and  Kingslaw,  third  part  of  the  barony 
of  Dundee,  Sheriff,  annual  customs  of  Dundee,  erecting  the  lands  into  a  free 
barony,  on  the  resignation  of  Andrew  Straton  of  Lauriston,  one  of  the  two 
heirs  and  successors  of  Patrick,  fourth  Lord  Gray  (do.  670) 


Chap.  XLV.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.-^MONIFIETH.  393 

Shortly  after  the  fifth  Lord  Gray  came  into  possession  of  Balgillo,  the  English 
garrison  at  Broughty  took  possession  of  the  hill  of  Balgillo  and  surrounding 
lands,  and  they  retained  possession  from  1547  till  1550.  Balgillo  appears  to 
have  again  come  into  possession  of  Lord  Gray  after  the  English  left. 

We  think  the  Blairs  had  succeeded  the  Grays,  and  they  remained  in  posses- 
sion of  the  lands  for  a  considerable  period.  One,  at  least,  of  this  family  was 
knighted.  Sir  William  Blair  of  Balgillo,  knight,  was  one  of  the  trustees 
appointed  by  Lady  Grange  to  manage  her  mortification  for  poor  scholars,  &c., 
in  1645. 

In  1651  General  Monk  occupied  the  hill  of  Balgillo  for  a  short  time.  It,  as 
well  as  the  lands  of  Balgillo,  may  have  been  the  property  of  the  Grays  or  of 
the  Blairs  at  the  time  of  Monk's  occupation.  On  24th  October,  1661,  Master 
John  Cunninghame  was  retoured  (No.  380)  in  an  annual  payment  of  330 
merks  from  the  lands  and  barony  of  Broughty  Ferry  and  the  lands  of  Balgillo. 
The  name  of  the  proprietor  is  not  given  in  the  retour,  but  we  think  it  had 
been  one  of  the  Blairs,  and  that  they  had  parted  with  these  properties  shortly 
after  the  date  of  that  retour. 

On  8th  March,  1670,  Andrew  Reid  of  Knap,  heir  of  Gilbert  Eeid,  his  im- 
mediate younger  brother,  was  retoured  (No.  442)  in  the  manor  of  Broughty, 
salmon  fishings  in  the  Tay  and  water  mouth  of  same,  lands  in  Lundie,  and 
third  part  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Balgillo,  and  lands  of  Ley  of  Balgillo. 

Before  1684  Balgillo  had  come  into  possession  of  Hunter  of  Burnside. 
Ochterlony  adds — "  With  a  salmon  fishing  upon  Tay,  and  a  great  cuningaire." 
In  the  Valuation  Eoll  of  1683,  Balgillo,  Forth,  and  fishings  are  entered  together 
at  £Q66  13s  4d  annual  rent.  Col.  Hunter  then  or  shortly  thereafter  appears  to 
have  been  superior,  and  David  Fyffe  proprietor  of  Balgillo.  In  1795  the  Hon. 
William  Maule  was  superior  of  lands  of  Forth,  North  Ferry,  and  fishings,  and 
General  Hunter  proprietor — £98  8s  9d.  The  lands  of  Balgillo  belonged  to 
David  Hunter,  as  superior,  and  David  Charles  Fyfle,  proprietor— £568  4s  7d 
^£666  13s  4d.  On  7th  April,  1804,  another  division  took  place.  The 
trustees  of  David  Erskine  purchased  Balgillo,  &c. — £446  3s  8d — and  General 
Hunter  kept  the  remaining  lands,  including  the  field  called  the  Kail  Pot — 
£122  lis — "  and  part  of  the  North  Ferry,  being  houses  formerly  belonging  to 
Kinloch— £25." 

The  lands  of  Balgillo  remain  part  of  the  estate  of  Linlathen,  of  which  J. 
Erskine  Erskine  is  proprietor.      The  lands  of  Balgillo  held  of  the  Priory  of 
Eesteneth,  and  paid  13s  4d  annually  to  the  Prior. 
3d 


394  ANGUS  OK  FOEFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIY, 

The  lands  of  Balmossie  had  been  acquired  at  an  early  period  by  a  family 
who  assumed  the  name  of  the  property  for  a  surname,  but  when  they  did  so 
we  do  not  know.  The  first  of  the  name  we  meet  with  had  been  an  adherent 
of  Kobert  the  First.  This  King  gave  a  charter  to  Allan  Balmossie  of  some 
lands  in  Dundee,  and  third  part  of  Craigie  (In.  to  Ch.,  18-81).  King  Eobert 
II.  granted  a  charter  to  Patrick  Inverpeffer  of  the  third  part  of  Craigie  called 
Bruis  lands,  quilk  was  "Walter  Balmossie,  and  the  co-superiority  Alexander 
Scrymgeor,  Constable  of  Dundee,  resigned  (do.,  113-5).  The  same  King 
gave  said  Patrick  a  charter  of  same  lands,  with  the  fishings  (do.,  122-100), 
and  another  charter  of  same  lands  to  same  person  (do.  128-6).  As  the  terms 
of  these  charters  are  nearly  identical,  we  think  they  all  refer  to  one  and 
the  same  charter. 

In  early  times  Balmossie  was  much  more  extensive  than  it  now  is.  It  then 
included  the  lands  now  called  Barnhill,  Panmure  Bleachfield  lands,  the  Links 
below  BarnhiU,  Keres,  and  lands  to  the  west,  including  the  land  from  the  river 
northwards  to  the  street  on  west  of  Eeres  House  and  grounds. 

Balmossie  and  these  other  lands  have  long  been  possessed  by  the  Maules  of 
Panmure  and  their  successors,  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie  being  the  present  proprietor. 

The  Halyburtons  of  Pitcur  had  an  interest  in  the  parish  of  Monifieth  in 
parts  of  the  16th  and  17th  centuries.  On  21st  April,  1619,  James  Halyburton 
of  Pitcur,  heir  of  Sir  James,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  15)  in  the  lands  of 
Eglismonichto,  alias  Barnhill,  Brachan,  alias  Camp,  and  Brigend  of  Monifieth, 
and  salmon  fishings  called  Palmanichts,  over  the  northern  part  of  the  water 
of  Tay,  with  the  teinds  and  vicarages,  in  the  barony  of  Eglismonichto,  and 
regality  of  Keremure ;  the  lands  of  Balmossie,  in  the  same  barony  and  regality 
— A.E.  £6,  N.E.  £24 ;  two  parts  of  the  Kirkton  of  Monifieth  and  Justing- 
leyes,  with  fishing  in  the  sea  and  the  water  of  Tay ;  sixth  part  of  the  village 
or  town  of  Kirkton  of  Monifieth,  in  warrandice  of  Eglismonichto,  &c. — A.E. 
£3,  N.E.  £12. 

On  22d  October,  1672,  David  Halyburton,  heir  of  his  father  James,  was 
retoured  (No.  458)  in  the  same  lands  and  fishings,  with  the  addition  of  the 
two  mills  of  Brachane.  The  teinds  and  fishings  appear  to  have  been  acquired 
by  the  Earls  of  Panmure.  Earl  George,  heir  of  his  father,  Earl  Patrick,  was  re- 
toured in  them  (No.  385)  1st  April,  1662  ;  Earl  George,  as  heir  of  Earl  George, 
his  father  (No.  450),  on  16th  May,  1671 ;  Earl  James,  as  heir  of  Earl  George, 
his  father,  was  retoured  in  same  (No.  502)  on  27th  April,  1686, 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  395 

On  13th  May,  1663,  William  Kyd,  heir  of  Robert  Kyd  of  Craigie,  his  im- 
mediate younger  brother,  was  retoured  (No.  402)  in  half  rupis  of  Broughty, 
half  the  town  and  lands  of  North  Ferry  called  the  Forth  of  Broughty,  with 
teinds  and  fishings  upon  the  water  of  Tay.  Half  feudifirmae  £143  6s  8d— 
A.E.  15s,  N.E.  £3. 

In  early  times  Betun  was  a  common  proprietary  name  in  Angus.  In  1290 
Sir  David  of  Betun  (EthiebeatonJ  was  Sheriff  of  the  county  of  Forfar.  Sir 
Robert  of  Betune,  knight,  did  homage  to  Edward  I.  at  St  Andrews,  22d  July, 
1291.  Three  others  of  the  name,  two  called  Robert,  did  fealty  to  the  King  at 
Berwick-on-Tweed  in  1296.  King  Robert  Bruce  confiscated  the  lands  and 
barony  of  Archiebetoun,  Forfar,  which  belonged  to  David  Betoun,  and  gave 
Alexander  Senniscall,  or  the  Stewart,  a  charter  of  them,  1309  (In.  to  Ch.,  1-8.) 

The  surname  of  Beaton  or  Bethune  is  said  to  be  of  French  origin,  and  the 
family  came  to  Scotland  in  the  reign  of  William  the  Lion.  The  first  who 
appears  is  Robert  de  Betun,  who  is  witness  to  a  charter  by  De  Quincy,  who 
flourished  in  Scotland  in  the  latter  half  of  the  twelfth  century.  John  of 
Betun,  Clerk  of  the  Diocese  of  Dunkeld,  witnesses  a  charter  of  the  Kirk  of 
Ruthven  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  in  1211.  In  1214-26  David  and  John  of 
Beaton  witness  charters  of  the  lands  of  Kirriemuir  by  Malcolm,  Earl  of  Angus. 
David,  the  Sheriff,  witnesses  that  Earl's  grant  of  the  Abthein  lands  of  Monifieth 
in  1220.  David,  the  Sheriff,  and  Robert  de  Betun,  witness  a  charter  by 
Christian  of  Valloniis,  Lady  of  Panmure,  to  John  of  Lydel  of  the  lauds  of 
Panlathie,  &c.,  in  1254-6  ;  and  both  of  them  were  at  the  inquest  held  in  1286 
regarding  the  division  of  the  pasture  belonging  to  the  family  of  Panmure, 
Shortly  after  the  forfeiture  of  the  Sheriff  the  family  appear  to  have  left  Angus 
and  gone  to  Fife,  and  the  Beatons  or  Bethunes  have  long  been,  and  they  still 
are,  an  important  family  there. 

The  lands  appear  to  have  passed  from  "  the  Stewart "  to  the  Earl  of  Angus. 
Alexander  Lindsay  received  from  David  II.  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Athi- 
beton  given  by  Thomas,  Earl  of  Angus,  25th  August  1362  (do.,  62-18; 
Doug.  I.,  374).  Robert  III.  gave  a  charter  of  Achebetoun  and  other  lands  to 
David,  Earl  of  Crawford  (do.,  142-87).  They  appear  to  have  been  given  by 
Isobel,  Countess  of  Mar.  Alexander  Bruce  of  Earlshall  got  a  charter  of  Ethie- 
beton,  30th  May,  1581  (Bar.,  511). 

The  Fotheringhams  of  Powrie  acquired  an  interest  in  the  lands.  On  5th 
December,  1654,  John  Fotheringham  of  Powrie,  heir  of  his  brother  Thomas, 
was  retoured  (No.  340)  in  the  half  of  the  west  part  of  Ethiebeaton— E,  ^12 


396  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

feu-duty.  Three  years  thereafter  David  Fotheringham  succeeded  his  uncle 
Thomas  (No.  358),  same  lands.  On  17tli  December,  1657,  David  Carmichael, 
son  of  Patrick  Campbell,  burgess  of  Dundee,  heir  of  James  Carmichael, 
burgess,  his  grandfather,  was  retoured  (No.  364)  in  the  other  half  of  same  lands 
— O.E.  50s,  N.E.  £10.  On  8th  May,  1696,  Thomas  Fotheringham  of  Powrie, 
heir  of  his  brother  John,  was  retoured  (No.  540)  in  the  teinds  and  rectory 
dues  on  half  the  town  and  lands ;  in  half  the  lands  of  Ethiebeaton,  in  the 
regality  of  Kirriemuir.  The  other  half  of  the  town  and  lands  of  Ethiebeaton 
was  acquired  from  the  Carmichaels  by  the  Durhams.  In  the  Valuation  Roll 
of  1683  the  lands  are  entered  thus: — The  acres  of  David  Durham,  £370; 
Powrie  for  Ethiebeaton,  £280 — together,  £650. 

The  lands  of  Ethiebeaton,  Hillock,  Laws,  Newbigging,  and  Omachie,  in 
Monifieth,  were  all  acquired  by  George  Dempster  of  Dunnichen.  He  died  on  2d 
June,  1752,  in  the  75th  year  of  his  age.  His  grandson,  also  George  Dempster, 
in  1771,  sold  Ethiebeaton,  Laws,  Newbigging,  and  Omachie  to  Sir  Alexander 
Eamsay  Irvine  of  Balmain,  Baronet,  who  entailed  them  ;  but  after  his  death, 
in  1806,  Sir  Alexander  Eamsay,  previously  A.  Burnet,  advocate,  his  heir,  suc- 
ceeded, and,  in  1807,  reduced  the  entail.  In  1818  he  sold  four  of  these  estates 
to  David  Millar  of  Ballumbie.  He  sold  about  31 3|  acres  of  Ethiebeaton  to 
Robert  Arklay,  of  the  annual  value  of  £518  10s  7|^d ;  and  to  Patrick  Anderson 
about  109^  acres,  of  the  annual  value  of  £1 3 1  9s  4|^d — together,  as  above,  £650. 
This  latter  portion  was  also  acquired  by  the  Arklays,  as  was  also  the  Hillock, 
which  adjoins  Ethiebeaton.  John  Arklay  of  Hillock  died  12th  June,  1828, 
aged  87  years.  Matilda  Crammond,  his  wife,  died  8th  December,  1830,  aged 
72  years.  Their  son,  Robert  Arklay  of  Ethiebeaton,  J.P.,  died  2d  June,  1837, 
aged  58  years.  John,  son  of  Robert,  Avas  drowned  whilst  bathing  at  Monifieth, 
18th  August,  1837,  aged  11  years.  Elizabeth  Sim,  daughter  of  Rev.  David 
Sim,  minister  of  Barrie,  and  spouse  of  Robert  Arklay,  died  26th  August,  1859, 
aged  75  years.  Agnes,  their  youngest  daughter,  died  in  1862,  aged  31 
years. 

Robert  Arklay,  the  present  proprietor  of  Ethiebeaton  and  Hillock,  recently 
built  a  fine  new  mansion  on  the  estate.  It  stands  on  an  elevated  site,  and 
commands  an  extensive  prospect  to  the  south,  west,  and  north.  A  good  walled 
garden  adjoins  the  house.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  Arklay  of  Ethie- 
beaton, J. P.  for  Forfarshire,  who  died  in  1837,  and  Elizabeth  Sim  ;  was  born 
in  1825  ;  married,  in  1858,  Catherine,  daughter  of  the  late  David  Neish.  He 
is  a  J.P.  and  a  Commissioner  of  Supply  for  the  county  of  Forfar. 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  397 

The  chapel  known  as  "  Chapel  Dockie  "  in  the  olden  time,  which  stood  on 
Ethiebeaton,  disappeared  long  ago. 

The  lands  of  ForthiU  were  feued  from  Major-General  Hunter  of  Burnside 
on  15th  May,  1810,  by  George  Eaitt,  senior,  tenant  in  Barns  of  Claverhouse^ 
He  was  succeeded  in  them  by  his  son,  George  Eaitt,  junior,  of  Euthmoyle, 
King's  County,  Ireland.  He  died  on  22d  February,  1848.  By  his  will,  dated 
13th  January,  1846,  he  left  the  estate  of  ForthiU  to  Sylvester  Eaitt  Kerr,  son 
of  the  late  William  Kerr,  solicitor  in  Dundee,  by  his  daughter,  Catherine  Jane 
Eaitt.  A  part  of  the  lands  have  been  given  off  in  feu  for  villas,  upon  which 
dwellinghouses  have  been  erected,  some  of  which  are  large  and  elegant. 
Another  and  larger  portion  is  feued  for  nurseries,  and  the  remainder  is 
arable  land.  There  is  a  good  mansion  called  Balgillo  House,  with  grounds 
around  it. 

The  lands  of  Pitkerro  are  in  the  parishes  of  Dundee  and  Monifieth.  We 
have  given  the  proprietary  account  of  Pitkerro  (supra  155-61).  In  Douglas' 
Baronage  it  is  stated  that  the  family  of  Durham  had  a  gift  of  these  lands  from 
Eobert  I.  The  lands  gifted  by  King  Eobert  were  those  of  Monyfothe  and  the 
Milne,  of  which  a  charter  was  given  to  William  Aula  Dunolm  (In.  to  Ch,, 
22-53).  The  lands  were  those  of  the  Grange,  and  the  mill  was  the  Milton  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Dighty,  and  not  Pitkerro.  The  recipient  of  the  bounty  of 
the  Bruce  was  Sir  William  Durham,  knight. 

John,  second  son  of  Alexander  Durham,  sixth  baron  of  the  Grange  of 
Monifieth,  is  designed  of  Pitkerro  and  Omachie,  in  virtue  of  charters  from 
James  V.  dated  19th  October,  1534,  and  he  was  the  founder  of  these  two 
branches  of  the  family,  who  were  respectively  designed  of  Pitkerro  and 
Omachie  (For.  111.,  p.  62).  The  family  also  acquired  the  estate  of  The  Laws, 
and  other  lands  in  various  parts  of  Angus. 

Sir  James  Durham,  fifth  baron  of  Pitkerro  was  succeeded  by  his  son  James, 
VI.  of  Pitkerro.  He  was  a  staunch  loyalist  at  the  commencement  of  the  great 
civil  war,  and  served  as  captain  in  the  regiment  of  which  his  brother  Alex- 
ander (afterwards  Lord  Lyon)  was  colonel.  When  about  forty -five  years  ot 
age  he  joined  the  Covenanters,  abjured  the  profession  of  arms,  studied  theology, 
became  an  eminent  preacher,  was  one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  one  of 
the  King's  chaplains,  then  one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Inner  High  Church, 
Glasgow,  where  he  preached  before  Cromwell  in  April,  1651.    See  supra,  p. 


398  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

159,  for  other  details  regarding  this  soldier,  minister,  and  Covenanting  baron 
of  Pitkerro. 

The  following  is  a  short  account  of  the  family  of  Durham  of  the  Grange  of 
Monifieth,  and  of  the  proprietors  who  succeeded  them  in  the  estate,  and  other 
details  regarding  the  property : — 

The  Durhams  are  supposed  to  be  of  English  extraction,  and  probably  from 
the  county  or  city  of  Durham,  but  persons  of  that  surname  must  have  come 
to  Scotland  at  an  early  period.  As  soon  as  surnames  came  into  use  in  the  king- 
dom there  were  Durhams  of  that  ilk  in  Kirkcudbright,  and  Kirkpatrick  Durham 
is  an  ancient  parish,  though  the  village  of  that  name  in  it  is  modern.  It  is 
not  known  when  the  first  of  the  name  came  to  Angus,  but  one  of  the  name 
was  a  faithful  adherent  of  The  Bruce. 

I.  Sir  William  Durham  of  Grange  of  Monifieth  received  from  that  Monarch 
a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Grange  in  1322,  and  the  charter,  with  the  Great 
Seal  attached,  was  entire  about  a  century  ago.  The  charter  is  to  Willielmo 
de  Durham  militi  dilecto  etfidili  nostro,  &c.  Thereafter  Grange  became  the 
chief  title  of  this  family.  He  died  in  the  reign  of  David  II.,  and  was  sacceeded 
by  his  son, 

II.  Michael  Durham  of  Grange.  He  was  one  of  an  inquest  upon  the  per- 
ambulation of  the  lands  of  Ochterlony,  in  Angus,  1379,  and  died  in  the  reign 
of  James  I.,  leaving  issue  a  son  and  heir. 

III.  John  Durham  of  Grange  had  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  from 
James  II.  of  the  lands  of  Terachty,  &c.,  in  Angus,  dated  25th  July,  1457. 
He  died  in  the  reign  of  James  III.,  and  left  a  son, 

IV.  Thomas  Durham  of  Grange,  who  succeeded  his  father.  He  was  on  an 
inquest  upon  a  perambulation  for  determining  the  marches  of  some  lands 
belonging  to  the  Abbey  of  Arbroath  in  1494,  and  died  soon  thereafter,  leaving 
a  son  who  succeeded  to  his  lands. 

V.  John  Durham  of  Grange  obtained  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  from 
James  IV.  of  several  lands  in  this  county,  dated  31st  January  1507.  He  died 
in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  James  V.,  leaving  a  son  and  successor. 

VI.  Alexander  Durham  of  Grange,  who  married  Janet,  daughter  of  John 
Erskine  of  Dun.  Upon  his  own  resignation  he  got  a  charter  under  the  Great 
Seal  to  Alexander  Durham  of  Grange  and  Janet  Erskine,  his  spouse,  of  the 
lands  and  mill  of  Grange,  &c.,  in  Forfarshire,  dated  27th  April,  1525.  By 
his  wife  he  had  three  sons — William,  his  heir  ;  John,  ancestor  of  the  Durhams 
of  Pitkerro,  Largo,  Luffness,  &c. ;  and  James,  who  was  progenitor  of  the 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  399 

Durhams  of  Duntarvie,  &c.    He  got  a  charter  under  the  Grreat  Seal  of  the  lands 
of  Duntarvie,  Blackness,  &c.,  Linlithgowshh-e,  16th  August,  1588. 

VII.  William  Durham  of  Grange  succeeded  on  the  death  of  his  father,  but 
prior  to  that  event,  upon  his  father's  resignation,  he  got  a  charter  under  the 
Great  Seal  from  Queen  Mary  of  the  lands  of  Dunfind  and  Bractullo,  dated  in 
1544.  He  was  an  active  and  a  leading  friend  of  the  Reformation.  At  the 
General  Assembly  held  in  the  Nether  Tolbooth  on  25th  June,  1565,  the  Mass 
was  abolished  throughout  the  realm,  transgressors  to  be  punished,  that 
the  word  and  worship  of  God  be  established  ;  and  that  there  should  be  to  a 
certain  extent  compulsory  attendance  at  worship.  It  was  resolved  to  urge 
that  the  ecclesiastical  revenues  otherwise  disposed  of  in  1563  be  transferred  to 
the  Protestant  Church.  Five  members  were  appointed  to  present  the  "  articles" 
to  the  Queen,  one  of  whom  was  William  Durham  of  Grange  in  Monifieth. 
They  went  to  the  Queen  at  Perth,  but  she  slipped  off  to  Dunkeld.  Thither 
they  followed,  but  she  told  them  she  required  the  advice  of  her  Council  in  the 
matter.  They  were  ultimately  told  by  the  Queen  that  she  would  not  press 
the  conscience  of  any  of  her  subjects,  and  she  claimed  the  like  toleration  for 
herself.     She  declined  to  part  with  the  ecclesiastical  revenues. 

VIII.  On  10th  October,  1574,  Robert  Durham,  heir  of  his  father,  William, 
was  retoured  (No.  13)  in  the  lands  of  Grange,  with  mansion  and  mill,  fishings, 
&c.,  and  superiority  of  some  other  lands. 

IX.  WilHam  Durham  of  Grange  succeeded  on  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
obtained  a  charter  under  the  Great  Seal  of  part  of  the  lands  of  Kellie,  &c.,  in 
Angus,  dated  27th  June,  1609.  He  left  issue  two  sons,  WilKara,  his  heir, 
and  James  of  Ardownie,  who  carried  on  the  line  of  the  family.  He  died  in 
the  end  of  the  reign  of  James  VI.,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 

X.  William  Durham  of  Grange.  On  4th  March,  1676,  William  Durham, 
heir  of  William  Durham  of  Grange,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  465)  in  the 
dominical  lands,  or  Grange  of  Monifieth,  with  the  corn  and  fulling  mills,  salmon 
fishings,  and  fortalice  of  Grange,  and  the  superiority  of  Balcloche — A.E.  £8, 
N.E.  £32.  He  was  the  last  Durham  of  Grange,  having  sold  the  property 
about  1702  to  R.  Martin,  of  Edinburgh.  His  male  line  then  failed,  and  the 
representation  of  the  Durhams  of  Grange  devolved  upon  the  representatives 
of  his  brother  James.  The  following  episode  took  place  when  WiUiam  was 
the  laird  of  Grange. 

"  The  Marquis  of  Montrose  had  nearly  made  his  escape  when  at  the  house  of 
Grange  of  Monifieth.      On  his  way  south  in  1650  he  lodged  there,  and  old 


400  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Mrs  Durham  of  Grange  attempted  to  effect  his  rescue  from  his  guards.  After 
observing  the  disposition  of  the  soldiers  for  the  night,  and  making  the 
acquaintance  of  the  officers,  she  ordered  her  butler  to  let  the  soldiers  have  as 
much  drink  as  they  desired,  and  she  herself,  out  of  respect  and  kindness,  as 
she  pretended,  so  plied  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  main  guard,  who  were 
kept  in  her  own  hall,  with  the  strongest  ale  and  whisky,  that  before  midnight 
all  of  them  became  very  drunk.  Her  butler  did  not  carry  out  her  directions 
to  the  letter,  as  he  permitted  one  of  the  soldiers  who  was  not  on  the  guard 
that  night  to  go  into  the  house.  The  guards  were  all  lying  like  swine  on  a 
dunghill,  and  the  Marquis,  dressed  in  female  apparel  for  a  disguise,  passed 
through  the  mainguard  and  the  outerguard,  when  he  was  seized  by  the  inter- 
loper and  rudely  turned  back  to  his  prison  chamber.  The  old  laird  and  lady, 
with  all  the  servants,  were  made  prisoners,  and  they  were  taken  before  the 
Committee  of  Estates.  Mrs  Durham  declared  before  them  that  she  was  the 
sole  contriver  of  the  scheme  to  give  Montrose  his  liberty,  and  expressed  great 
sorrow  that  the  attempt  had  failed.  This  confession  freed  her  husband  and 
the  servants  from  complicity  in  the  charge,  and  they  all  got  off  on  the  laird 
giving  security  that  his  wife  would  appear  before  the  Committee  of  Estates 
when  called,  which  she  never  was"  (Mem.  of  Montrose,  pp.  380-1). 

The  Durhams  of  Grange  of  Monifieth  and  Pitkerro  came  from  Kirkcudbright- 
shire to  Forfarshire.  In  1626  Durham  of  Pitkerro  gave  300  merks  to  the  poor 
of  the  parish.  He  was  allowed  to  erect  a  "  burial  aisle  on  the  north  side  of  the 
queer  of  the  kirk."  When  the  present  church  was  built  the  tomb  was  wantonly 
destroyed,  and  many  other  sacrilegious  deeds  were  done  in  and  about  the 
church.  A  part  of  the  tomb,  consisting  of  war  trophies,  lies  in  the  churchyard, 
and  other  parts  are  built  into  the  east  gable  of  the  church. 

Durham  of  Pitkerro  was  buried  in  the  tomb.  He  was  cashier  of  James 
VI.,  and  was  knighted  at  Dundee  "at  my  desyre,"  21st  February,  1651 
(Balfour's  Annals).  Patrick  Ruthven,  Earl  of  Perth,  who  died  at  Dundee, 
2d  February,  1651,  "  was  interred  in  Grange  Durham's  lie  in  the  paroche 
churche  of  Monefeithe." 

The  affairs  of  the  Durhams  of  Pitkerro  having  become  embarrassed,  Adam, 
second  son  of  Sir  James  Durham  of  Luffness,  sold  the  estate  of  Pitkerro  in 
1685  to  James,  Earl  of  Panmure,  for  about  £15,333  Scots  (23,000  mks).  He 
resold  the  property  to  George  Mackenzie,  as  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on 
Dundee. 

We  mentioned  above  that  the  tenth  Durham,  proprietor  of  the  Grange,  sold 


136 

18 

4| 

358 

13 

11 

218 

13 

51 

Chap.  XLV.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  401 

the  property  to  R,  Martin,  of  Edinburgh,  about  the  year  1702.  This  family 
sold  the  property  to  the  Hunters  of  Burnside.  They  did  not  retain  it  long. 
The  estate  was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  family  of  Kerr.  Thomas  Kerr, 
born  30th  December,  1737,  married  Catherine  Kerr,  born  1st  January,  1730. 
He  died  22d  December,  1811 ;  she  died  1st  January,  1808.  By  her  he  had 
issue  a  son,  David,  his  heir,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  born  8th  June,  1768, 
and  died  in  May,  1839.     He  bought  the  lands  of  Grange  in  1795. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  Grange,  including  the  fishings,  was  valued 
at  £908  6s  8d  yearly.     The  Grange  then  included  Grange  and  North  Grange. 
On  29th  September,  1795,  they  were  divided  thus  : — 
No.  1.  Those  parts  of  Grange  lately  disponed  by  Thomas  Kerr 

to  Robert  Kerr,  and  set  to  John  Arklay,  .  .    £194     0  11 

2.  Swinefauld,  Stonedyke,  Middleshade,  Craigwill shade,  and 

South  Brounlow  Park,  .... 

3.  Eight  enclosures  or  parks,  .... 
4  to  9.  The  remaining  parts  of  the  estate,  including  salmon 

fishings,  ^17  5s  4d,    . 

£908     6    8 
In  1822  Roll   No.  1  belonged  to  Thomas  Kerr,  and  the  remaining  three 
divisions,  as  above,  to  David  Kerr. 

North  Grange  was  subsequently  acquired  by  Thomas  Arkley,  and  afterwards 
by  Thomas  Kerr  of  South  Grange. 

David  Kerr  of  Grange,  born  12th  December,  1766,  succeeded  on  the  death 
of  his  father.  He  purchased  the  lands  of  Newbigging,  in  the  parish  of  Monikie, 
in  1821.  He  married  Ann  Anderson,  born  16th  March,  1769,  and  by  her  he 
had  two  sons — Thomas,  who  succeeded  his  father ;  David,  born  23d  May,  1803, 
died  11th  June,  1832 ;  and  a  daughter,  Margaret,  born  5th  July,  1800,  died 
31st  May,  1865. 

Thomas  Kerr  of  Grange  and  Newbigging,  born  at  Pitskelly,  in  the  parish  of 
Barrie,  5th  July,  1800.  He  purchased  the  lands  of  North  Grange  in  1875. 
He  died  11th  January,  1879,  leaving  the  lands  of  Grange  to  Thomas  Thow, 
solicitor,  Dundee,  and  Newbigging  to  Thomas  Drimmie,  whose  father,  Daniel 
Drimmie,  bleacher,  Panmurefield,  was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  laird  of  the 
Grange.  By  an  arrangement  with  Alexander  Anderson  of  Langhaugh, 
the  great-grandson  of  Thomas  Kerr  who  died  in  1811,  the  Granges,  both 
South  and  North,  were  given  over  by  the  new  laird  to  him,  and  he  is  now 
3e 


402  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

the  proprietor  of  South  and  North  Grange,  and  Longhaugh  in  the  parish 
of  Mains. 

The  residence  of  the  Durhams  of  Grange  was  a  castellated  mansion,  which 
stood  upon  the  site  of  the  present  house.  In  the  hollow  to  the  west  of  the 
castle  there  was  a  small  lake,  and  the  grounds  around  both  were  studded  with 
fine  trees.  The  castle  was  demolished,  the  lake  filled  up  with  the  debris,  and 
the  house  built  by  the  earlier  of  the  Kerr  proprietors. 

The  present  proprietor  has  effected  great  improvements  about  the 
mansion.  It  was  closely  surrounded  with  large  trees  and  shrubs  to  the 
exclusion  of  air,  light,  and  view.  He  has  removed  many  of  the  shrubs  and 
trees,  and  thereby  opened  up  splendid  prospects  in  various  directions,  made  a 
fine  approach  to  the  house,  with  a  neat  entrance  lodge,  laid  out  beautiful 
gardens,  and  built  extensive  conservatories  and  vineries  to  the  east  of  the 
house,  and  he  has  remodelled  the  mansion  without  and  within.  It  is  now  a 
handsome  building  of  two  floors,  the  entrance  being  in  the  centre  of  the  front, 
which  is  chaste  and  neat.     The  offices  are  in  the  rear. 

The  house  is  on  the  summit  of  an  elevated  natural  mound,  protected  from 
the  northern  blasts  by  a  plantation  of  noble  trees,  consisting  of  chestnuts, 
beech,  oak,  ash,  c^-^c.  Among  the  large  trees  at  the  Grange  there  are  two 
yews  close  by  the  east  entrance  to  the  grounds,  and  a  short  distance  south 
from  the  mansion,  which  are  about  400  years  old.  They  carry  their  age  well, 
being  still  healthy  and  vigorous,  and  likely  to  survive  for  many  centuries  to 
come,  if  not  destroyed  or  injured  by  extraneous  causes.  Not  far  from  these 
ancient  specimens  of  arboriculture  is  a  splendid  walnut  tree,  13|-  feet  in  girth 
near  the  ground,  and  a  beech  15J  feet  in  girth  two  feet  above  the  ground. 
There  is  also  a  fine  old  chestnut  tree  which  covers  a  great  extent  of  ground. 
A  person  can  walk  in  a  straight  line  nearly  90  feet  under  its  branches.  Two 
fragments  of  stones  from  the  old  Castle  of  Grange  have  been  built  into  the  east 
wall  of  the  lodge,  part  of  the  armorial  bearings  of  the  Durhams  being  on  each 
of  them.  On  one  is  the  letter  W,  underneath  which  is  the  date  16.10.  On 
the  other  is  the  letter  W.  The  lands  of  Grange  were  held  oif  the  Priory  of 
Resteneth,  and  paid  to  the  prior  forty  shillings  Scots  annuallv. 

Jean  Ochterlony,  Lady  Grange,  and  William  Durham  of  Grange,  her 
spouse,  and  Elizabeth  Durham,  Lady  Balbegno,  their  daughter,  deposited  with 
William  Durham,  fiar  of  Grange,  2500  merks  in  gold  and  silver,  usual 
money  of  Scotland,  for  the  service  of  God,  and  for  a  subsidy  and  maintenance 
of  the  poor  members  of  Jesus  Christ  after-mentioned,  viz.,  for  sustentation  of 


Chap.  XLV.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MONIFIETH.  403 

ane  schoolmaster  at  the  kirk  and  town  of  Monifieth,  with  twa  scholars  in  poor 
said  school  of  the  name  of  Ochterlony  and  Durham  before  others  ;  and  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  poor.  One  hundred  pounds  usual  money  of  Scotland 
yearly,  payable  at  Whitsunday  and  Martinmas,  whereof  forty  pounds  to  the 
schoolmaster,  forty  pounds  between  the  two  scholars,  and  twenty  pounds  to  the 
poor,  from  the  lands  of  Mains  of  Grange  and  Asludy,  with  the  mylne  and 
mylne  lands,  and  salmon  fishings.  The  trustees  appointed  to  manage  the 
Mortification  were : — 

Sir  William  Blair  of  Balgillo,  Knight, 
James  Durham  of  Pitkerro, 
James  Durham  of  Ardownie, 
and  their  heirs  ;  with  the 
Minister  of  Monifieth  for  the  time. 
The  Mortification  is  dated  at  Dundee,  13th  June,  and  Grange,  9th  September, 

1G45,  and  registered  20th  May,  1646. 

The  heirs  of  the  three  trustees  mentioned  above  have  all  died  out,  but  the 

Mortification  remains  intact,  and  its  provisions  have  been  carried  out  to 

the  present  time,  and  are  likely  to  remain  in  operation  for  many  years  to 

come.      The  original  writs  connected  with  the  Mortification  are  in  the 

hands  of  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Young,  D.D.,  the  respected  minister  of  the  parish. 

At  a  little  distance  north  of  the  glebe,  in  a  small  plantation  on  the  lands  of 

Grange,  there  lies  a  huge  block  of  stone,  with  a  hole  in  the  centre  fully  a  foot 

square  and  about  the  same  in  depth.     It  is  popularly  called  the  "  Font  Stone," 

and  the  plantation  the  "  Font  Stone  Wood,"  and  it  is  associated  with  the 

Culdees,  who  had  a  church  at  Monifieth.       It  had  been  suggested  by  more 

prosaic  people  that  the  shaft  of  the  cross,  afterwards  built  into  the  wall  of 

the  church,  may  originally  have  been  placed  in  it,  but  Mr  Jervise  doubts  this, 

as  most  of  the  sculptured  stones  were  found  in  the  foundations  of  the  old 

church.      The  stone  has  been  on  its  present  site  from  time  immemorial,  and 

from  its  great  size  and  weight  it  must  have  been  a  laborious  work  to  place  it 

there.      We  must  leave  the  history  of  the  font  to  the  imagination  of  the 

curious,  as  we  are  unable  to  give  any  reliable  account  of  its  age,  or  use,  or  the 

reason  for  placing  it  where  it  lies. 

The  lands  of  Kingennie  and  Carnton  belonged  to  Thomas  Stewart,  the 
Senescal,  Earl  of  Angus  and  Lord  of  Bonkyl.  He  gave  to  Andrew  Parker, 
burgess  of  Dundee,  a  charter  of  Kyngenny,  which  was  confirmed  by  David  11. 


404  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Pa^t  XIV. 

at  Perth,  lOtli  March,  1368  (In.  to  Ch.  80-140).  The  Earl  died  in  1377. 
The  lands  of  Kingennie  afterwards  came  into  possession  of  the  family  of 
Guthrie.  Margaret  Strathachan  gave  Malcolm  Guthrie  of  Kyngenny  and 
Marjory,  his  spouse,  a  charter  of  her  rights  of  patronage  of  chaplaniry  of  St 
Thomas^  Dundee.  This  charter  was  confirmed  by  the  Bishop  of  Brechin  on 
14th  December,  1481  (Dun.  Ch.,  260°).  Malcolm  Guthrie  of  Kingennie  was 
a  witness  in  1479  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  p.  250).  Gilbert  Guthrie  of  same  was  a 
juror  in  1560  (do.,  p.  309).  Ochterlony,  1684-5,  says  Kingennie  and  Broughty 
Castle,  with  salmon  fishings,  belonged  to  Fotheringham,  the  laird  of  Powrie. 
Alexander  Wedderburn  of  that  ilk  acquired  Kingennie  in  the  17th  century 
(Doug.  11,,  279).  Kingennie  has  remained  in  the  family  since  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Wedderburns,  the  present  proprietor  being  W.  S.  Wedderburn, 
Birkhill,  &c.,  &c.  In  early  times  Kingennie  was  a  forest,  but  we  cannot  define 
its  boundaries,  or  give  other  details.  There  was  a  chapel  at  Kingennie  prior  to 
the  Reformation.  It  was  dedicated  to  S.  Bridget.  No  part  of  the  building 
now  remains.  When  it  was  destroyed  religious  services  were  held  in  the 
upper  floor  of  the  castle. 

Some  alterations  have  recently  been  made  on  the  old  Castle  of  Kingennie, 
but  the  front  of  the  building,  facing  the  south,  is  left  unchanged.  Some  parts 
of  the  walls  are  very  thick,  and  they  have  been  built  of  rough  unhewn  stones, 
in  a  very  primitive  manner.  The  residence  of  the  proprietor  in  the  olden  time 
contrasts  very  unfavourably  with  the  dwellinghouse  of  the  farmer  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  in  the  present  time.  The  stones  which  formed  the 
fireplace  of  the  castle  have  been  built  into  the  back  entrance  to  the  farmhouse. 
The  upper  stone  is  triangular,  with  an  eagle  displayed,  with  the  letter  H.  on 
one  side  of  the  bird  and  R.  on  the  other.  Below  this  is  the  lintel  of  the  fire- 
place, on  which  are  the  Wedderburn  arms,  with  the  letters  A.  on  one  side 
and  W".  on  the  other,  E.  and  R.  below  A,  and  W.  The  castle  was  of  two 
floors,  the  upper  being  reached  by  an  outside  stair  and  a  platform  across  a 
passage.  Underneath  the  platform  is  the  eagle,  on  a  shield,  below  which  are 
the  letters  E.  R.  Over  the  centre  court  are  the  letters  ^E.  L.  :  S.  W^  =  1843. 
On  the  south  wall  of  the  granary  is  a  triangular  stone,  with  the  date  1 639 
upon  it,  near  to  which  is  the  coat  armorial  of  the  family  on  a  diamond 
shaped  stone,  with  A.  W.  below  same.  The  initials  and  date  over  the  centre 
court  are  modern,  but  all  the  others  are  old. 

On  the  top  of  the  small  hill  of  Kingennie,  which  is  about  a  mile  to  the 
north-west  of  The  Laws,  there  are  the  remains  of  an  ancient  circular  fort,  the 


Chap.  XLV.]         ANGCJS  IN  PAEISHES— MONIFIETH.  405 

construction  of  which  diflfers  materially  from  the  works  remaining  on  The 

Laws.     It  stands  on  the  apex  of  a  promontory,  which  juts  out  on  the  east 

side  of  the  hill.      The  east,  west,  and  north  sides  of  the  headland  are  very 

precipitous,  indeed  nearly  perpendicular,  rising  to  the  height  of  from  40  to  50 

feet  above  the  level  of  the  ground  below.     The  entrance  to  the  fort  is  from  the 

south,  and  the  hill,  on  this  side,  extends  for  a  considerable  distance,  widening 

out  as  the  distance  from  the  fort  increases.      The  walls  have  been  formed  of 

unhewn  stones,  the  outside  consisting  of  large  blocks,  and  the  inside  of  smaller 

stones.      The  walls  are  seven  feet  in  thickness,  and  what  remain  of  them  are 

about  eighteen  inches  in  height  above  the  level  of  the  ground.     On  the  south 

side  of  the  entrance  the  wall  is  7  feet  6  inches  in  thickness  and  four  feet  in 

height ;  but  on  the  north  side  the  wall  is  so  dilapidated  that  the  width  of  the 

original  opening  cannot  be  correctly  ascertained,  but  it  had  been  fully  four 

feet  wide.     The  diameter  of  the  fort,  over  walls,  is,  from  north  to  south,  68 

feet  10  inches,  and  from  east  to  west,  69  feet  9  inches,  so  that  the  diameter 

inside  the  walls  is  on  the  average  about  54  feet  6  inches.     Many  of  the  laro-e 

outer  boulders  and  other  stones  from  the  walls  have  been  thrown  over  the 

sides  of  the  promontory,  and  now  lie  about  its  base.     From  what  remains  of 

the  walls  they  appear  to  have  been  regularly  built,  and  although  without  lime 

or  other  building  cement,  they  had  been  a  strong  defence  against  attacking  foes. 

The  fort  is  locally  known  as  St  Bride's  King,  but  the  date  of  its  erection, 

the  people  by  whom  it  was  constructed,  the  foes  against  whom  it  was  intended 

for  a  defence,  and  the  origin  of  the  name  are  all  unknown.    From  what  remains 

it  had  evidently  been  a  work  requiring  great  labour,  which  indicates  that 

danger  must  have  been  imminent,  and  the  age  barbarous. 

The  proprietary  history  of  The  Laws,  or  "  Lawyes  of  Easter  Athy,"  as  a 
distinct  estate,  doos  not  go  far  back.  In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1863  it  is 
called  Lawes,  of  the  value  of  £225  annually.  David  Durham,  of  the  family 
of  Grange,  acquired  The  Laws  in  the  early  part  of  the  17th  century.  George 
Dempster  appears  to  have  succeeded  him.  His  grandson,  of  the  same  name, 
sold  The  Laws  and  other  adjoining  lands  to  the  Ramsays  of  Balmain  in  1771. 
They  sold  the  estate  of  Laws  in  1818  to  David  Millar  of  Ballumbie.  He  sold 
it  to  Patrick  Anderson  in  1821.  He  was  Provost  of  Dundee  for  some  years. 
He  sold  the  estate  to  Thomas  Colville  in  1834,  who  reconveyed  it  to  his 
brother,  William  Colville,  formerly  of  Calcutta.  His  trustees  sold  The  Laws 
to  James  Neish,  merchant  in  Dundee,  on  16th  August,  1850.      Mr  Neish 


406  ANGUS  OK  PORFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

made  considerable  improvemeuts  on  The  Laws,  and  the  estate  is  picturesque, 
beautiful,  and  mucli  more  valuable  than  when  he  acquired  it. 

The  elegant  mansion  of  The  Laws,  built  in  the  fourth  decade  of  this  century 
by  William  Coville,  then  the  proprietor,  is  in  the  Elizabethan  style,  having 
many  handsome  windows,  gables  with  ornamental  fineals,  lofty  chimney  tops, 
and  other  pleasing  adornments,  the  pile  being  very  picturesque.  The  entrance 
faces  the  east,  and  the  house  commands  views  varied  and  extensive. 

The  Laws  stands  on  an  elevated  site  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  cone  of  the 
southern  and  highest  of  the  lofty  eminences  called  "  The  Laws."  The  approach 
to  the  mansion  from  the  south  is  steep,  but  from  the  north  it  is  a  gentle  rise, 
with  many  windings,  through  thriving  plantations,  and  affording  charming 
peeps  of  the  scenery  within  and  without  the  wood.  The  grounds  are  extensive 
and  fine,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  house  they  are  laid  out  prettily. 

The  ascent  from  the  mansion  to  the  summit  of  the  adjoining  hill  or  Law  is 
easy,  and  the  prospect  from  the  top,  or,  higher  still,  from  a  castellated  erection 
reared  thereon,  is  grand  in  the  extreme. 

In  Vol.  I.,  p.  49-51,  we  gave  an  account  of  the  curious  fort  on  the  top  of 
The  Laws.  The  cyclopean  concentric  walls  upon  the  hill  of  Laws,  or  "  Lawes 
of  Easter  Athy,"  are  probably  the  most  remarkable  of  their  kind  in  the  king- 
dom. Only  a  portion  of  the  summit  of  the  hill  near  the  eastern  brow  has  yet 
been  explored,  and  it  is  uncertain  when  any  farther  portion  of  the  fort  will 
be  cleared  out,  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  the  proprietor,  Mr  James  Neish, 
a  short  time  after  the  death  of  his  wife.  Mr  Neish  was  a  kind-hearted,  intel- 
ligent man,  an  enthusiastic  antiquarian,  and  he  possessed  much  information 
regarding  the  proprietary  history  of  the  lands  and  boundaries  of  the  several 
estates  in  this  and  adjoining  parishes.  He  took  a  great  interest  in  my  work 
on  the  county,  and  was  ever  ready  to  afford  me  such  information  as  I  wanted 
which  he  possessed.     I  mourn  his  early  death. 

William  Neish,  merchant  in  Dundee,  who  died  in  1828,  married  Abigail, 
daughter  of  WilUam  Bissett  of  Dundee.  By  her  he  had  a  son,  James,  born 
1809.  In  1841  he  married  Janet,  daughter  of  John  Walker  of  Blebo  Mills, 
Fifeshire,  and  has  a  family.  His  eldest  son,  William,  born  1813,  is  B.A.  of  St 
John's  College,  Cambridge,  and  a  Barrister-at-  Law  of  Lincoln's  Inn.  Mr  Neish 
was  a  merchant  in  Dundee,  and  was  also  proprietor  of  the  contiguous  estate  of 
Omachie.  Mrs  Neish  died  on  31st  December,  1881,  and  he  died  on  22d  May, 
1882,  and  both  were  buried  in  the  new  cemetery  at  Barnhill,  in  the  parish. 
The  Laws  and  Omachie  now  belong  to  the  trustees  of  the  late  Mr  Neish. 


Chap.  XLV.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  407 

The  Knights  Templars  had  an  interest  in  Monifieth,  as  well  as  in  many  other 
parishes  in  the  county.  Their  lands  were  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Drumsturdy 
Muir,  but  we  are  not  sure  of  the  present  name  of  the  lands,  and  cannot  there- 
fore describe  them.  We  gave  an  account  of  the  Knights  Templars,  Vol.  II., 
p.  393. 

The  lands  of  Linlathen  may  have  been  Crown  lands  prior  to  the  time  of 
David  II.  That  King  granted  to  William  Suppyld  a  charter  of  the  lands  of 
Lumlethan  and  Craigolt,  in  the  Vic.  de  Forfar  (In.  to  Ch.,  34-6-).  He  had 
not  retained  them  long,  as  the  same  King  granted  to  William  Peebles  a 
charter  of  certain  lands  in  Vic.  de  Forfar,  viz.,  Lumlethen,  Craggock  (Craigie) 
(do.,  39-44).  King  David  also  granted  charter  confirming  a  charter  by  Mar- 
garet de  Lesly,  relict  of  the  late  Sir  Norman  Lesly,  knight,  to  her  cousin, 
William  Guppyld  and  his  son,  of  part  of  the  lands  of  the  late  Alexander  of 
Lambirtoun,  viz.,  Lumlaythim  and  Cragoe,  and  other  lands,  dated  11th 
February,  1366  (do.  81-15).  This  Alexander  de  Lamberton,  or  another 
of  the  same  name,  took  the  oaths  of  allegiance  twice  to  Edward  I.  A  person 
of  same  name  and  surname  was  one  of  an  inquest,  appointed  by  Robert  I.  in 
1322,  to  inquire  into  the  ancient  rights  and  privileges  of  the  Priory  of  Res- 
teneth  (Rag.  Roll,  126-57). 

The  family  of  Fiiher  of  Spalding  acquired  part  of  Lumlathin  and  Cragoe 
early  in  the  fifteenth  century.  The  lands  of  Lunleithein  came  into  possession 
of  cadets  of  Garden  of  that  ilk.  Thomas  Garden  was  proprietor,  perhaps  in 
succession  to  the  Fithers.  He  resigned  them,  and  David  Garden  and  Janet, 
his  spouse,  had  charter  of  them  in  1459.  The  lands  were  held  in  ward.  V/e 
do  not  know  how  long  the  Gardens  remained  in  possession  of  Linlathen. 
About  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century  Linlathen  was  the  property  of  a 
person  of  the  name  of  Gourlay  (Scot.  Arms  by  R.  D.  Stodart,  D.  Ad.  7/3/81.) 

The  lands  of  Linlathen  were  acquired  by  a  family  named  Strang  in  the  15th 
century,  but  we  have  not  ascertained  the  date.  He  was  also  proprietor  of 
Pitforthie  in  Brechin,  and  of  Craig.  He  disposed  of  Linlathen  and  Craig  to 
John  Scrymgeour,  second  son  of  James  Scrymgeour,  Constable  of  Dundee, 
the  charter  being  dated  7th  February,  1503-4.  The  lands,  or  part  of  them, 
were  acquired  by  the  Hays  of  Sandfuird.  On  Sd  October,  1551,  David,  lieir 
of  his  father,  Thomas  of  Nether  Sandfuird,  was  retoured  (No.  9;  iu  the  fourth 
part  of  the  lands  and  mill  of  Lumlethan — A.E.  10m.,  N.E.  25ra.  On  17th 
May,  1621,  Thomas  Ogilvy,  heir  of  Gilbert  Ogilvy  of  that  ilk,  his  gradfather, 


408  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

was  retoured  (No.  132)  in  the  third  part  of  the  lands  of  Lumletham — A.E. 
33s  4d,  N.E.  £6  13s  4d— and  in  other  lands.  On  2d  August,  1642,  George 
Suttie,  burgess  of  Edinburgh,  heir  portioner  of  Lady  Ker,  his  father's  mother, 
was  retoured  (No.  271)  in  the  sixth  part  of  the  lands  of  Lumlathine— N.E. 
£3  6s  8d. 

Linlathen  was  included  in  the  barony  of  Dundee  in  the  17th  century.  On 
25th  April,  1643,  James,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  heir  of  Viscount  John,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  280)  in  the  lands  of  Lamlathen,  and  other  lands. 
On  4th  November,  1646,  John,  Viscount  of  Dudhope,  was  served  heir  (No. 
287)  to  Viscount  James,  his  father,  in  Linlathen,  lands  and  acres  at  East 
Ferry.  On  8th  January,  1646,  James,  son  and  heir  of  George  Halyburton, 
who  fell  in  the  conflict  at  Tibbermuir,  was  retoured  (No.  298)  in  half  the 
town  and  lands  of  Easter  Keillor,  in  the  barony  of  Linlathen.  Some  of  the 
barons  of  Linlathen  may  have  had  an  interest  in  these  lands,  and  got  them 
included  in  the  barony.  A  baron  had  rights  and  privileges  which  a  laird  did 
not  possess. 

The  Grahams  of  Fintry  acquired  Linlathen,  probably  in  the  first  half  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  but  we  have  not  learned  the  precise  date.  Previous 
to  their  obtaining  the  lands  they  had  been  divided  among  several  proprietors, 
some  of  whom  are  mentioned  above.  Viscount  Dudhope  may  have  been  the 
superior  only,  but  we  cannot  say  so.  Prior  to  the  Valuation  Roll  for  1683, 
the  Grahams  were  in  possession.  The  entry  in  the  Roll  is  Fintry  for  Linlathen, 
£466  13s  4d.  The  Grahams  built  the  present  house  of  Linlathen,  and  called 
the  estate  Fintry.  When  the  house  was  ready,  they  left  the  Castle  of  Mains, 
and  took  up  their  abode  at  Fintry.  They  continued  to  reside  there  until 
about  1803,  when  the  estate  was  sold  by  Robert  Graham,  the  last  of  the  name 
who  owned  it.  A  division  of  the  lands  was  made  on  7th  April,  1804,  when 
those  parts  of  Linlathen  on  north  side  of  Old  Arbroath  Road  were  sold  by 
Erskine's  trustees  to  Mungo  Dick  of  Pitkerro,  annual  value  £62  Os  lOd,  leaving 
in  possession  of  the  trustees  £404  12s  6d,  together  £466  13s  4d. 

About  the  year  1803,  David  Erskine,  Writer  to  the  Signet,  Edinburgh, 
younger  son  of  John  Ersldne  of  Cardross,  author  of  the  "  Institutes  of  the 
Law  of  Scotland,"  purchased  the  estate  of  Linlathen  and  other  lands  from 
Robert  Graham  of  Fintry.  The  seller  stipulated  that  the  name  of  the  estate 
should  be  changed  from  Fintry  to  its  old  name  of  Linlathen,  which  was  done. 

The  only  memorials  of  the  Grahams  remaining  at  Linlathen  are  the  follow- 
ing initial  letters  and  dates :— On  the  back  window  of  what  is  now  the  bothy, 


Chap.  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PAKISHES.- MONIFIETH.  409 

17  :  R.  a.  :  70.  On  a  back  window  of  a  stable,  17  :  R.  G.  :  71.  On  the 
fountain  head,  whence  water  for  the  mansionhouse,  &c.,  is  taken,  D.  G.  : 
A.  M.  :  1705,  R.  G.  is  for  Robert  Graham,  D.  G.  for  David  Graham,  and 
A.  M.  for  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Mylne  of  Mylnefield. 

David  Erskine  of  Linhithen  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Graham  of  Airth. 
James  Erskine  of  Linlathen,  their  eldest  son,  died  in  the  Isle  of  Thanet,  Kent, 
on  26th  August,  1816,  aged  28  years.  He  was  interred  at  Monifieth,  as  were 
also  two  of  his  infant  children,  and  other  two  were  buried  in  the  Greyfriars' 
Churchyard,  Edinburgh.  Their  younger  son,  Thomas  Erskine,  LL.D., 
advocate,  succeeded  to  his  father's  estates.  He  was  author  of  "  Remarks  on 
the  Internal  Evidence  of  the  Truth  of  Rev^ealed  Religion,"  and  other  theological 
works.  He  died  at  Edinburgh  in  1870,  aged  82  years.  He  was  succeeded 
in  Linlathen  and  his  other  properties  by  a  sister's  son,  a  cadet  of  the  Patersons 
of  Castle  Huntly,  who  assumed  the  name  of  Erskine  on  succeeding  to  his 
uncle. 

James  Erskine  Erskine  of  Linlathen  married  Mary,  daughter  of  James 
Macnabb,  H.E.I.C.S.,  proprietor  of  the  estate  of  Arthurstone,  by  whom  he  has 
two  sons  and  several  daughters. 

Linlathen  House  stands  on  the  brow  of  a  steep,  sloping  bank  rising  from 
the  Dighty.  It  is  on  the  north  side  of  that  stream,  a  little  over  a  mile  from 
where  it  debouches  into  the  Tay.  The  mansion  is  extensive  and  commcdious, 
but  architecturally  it  cannot  be  called  a  very  handsome  structure. 

The  approach  to  the  mansion  from  the  highway  between  Dundee  and 
Arbroath  is  by  an  avenue  between  rows  of  thriving  limes.  The  grounds  in 
its  vicinity  are  studded  with  many  noble  specimens  of  oak,  ash,  elm,  plane, 
lime,  larch,  beech,  and  other  forest  trees  ;  numerous  hollies  of  many  sorts,  and 
a  superabundance  of  other  evergreens  in  endless  variety.  There  is  one  stately 
ash,  with  a  long,  straight,  clean  trunk,  which  towers  high  over  all  the  other 
lofty  trees,  and  with  a  girth  so  great  that  two  tall  men  with  outstretched  arms 
are  not  able  by  a  foot  or  two  to  embrace  it.  Close  by  this  ash  is  a  magnificent 
and  handsome  plane,  lofty  and  of  great  circumference.  These  two  monarchs  are 
much  admired. 

The  lav/ns  are  well  kept,  and  the  gardens  are  tastefully  laid  out.  In  one 
part  of  them  there  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  graceful  auracarias  in  the 
country,  a  large  deodar,  and  a  grand  lime,  the  spreading  branches  of  which 
reach  the  ground,  enclosing  a  shady  spot  so  extensive  that  a  numerous  garden 
party  could  feast  and  sport  themselves  withiu_its  embrace.  The  shrubbery 
3f 


410  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

oulwith  the  garden  wall  is  luxuriant,  varied,  and  rich  in  bloom  in  th^ 
season. 

An  ancient  keep,  tradition  says,  once  stood  on  the  hill  of  Conan,  near 
Arbroath,  called  Castle  Gregory.  The  chief  from  whom  the  castle  took  its 
name  was  slain,  and  buried  under  a  cairn  called  Cairn  Creg,  in  the  lands  of 
Linlathen,  in  the  parish  of  Monifieth.  The  cairn  is  on  an  eminence  a  little 
to  the  north  of  the  mansion  of  Linlathen.  The  cairn  was  opened  in  1834, 
and  we  gave  a  short  notice  of  it,  Vol.  I.,  p.  30.  The  urn,  which  contained  the 
ashes  of  the  chief,  is  of  coarse  material,  rudely  formed,  and  without  much  orna- 
mentation. It  is  7  inches  in  height,  and  it  contained,  besides  the  ashes  of  the 
deceased,  some  small  pieces  of  what  appears  to  be  animal  matter.  The  bronze 
dagger  has  been  about  5  inches  in  length,  and  two  inches  in  width  at  the  butt 
end.  It  bears  the  mark  of  the  handle,  which  had  been  flistened  by  three 
rivets  ;  two  of  these  are  attached  to  the  dagger,  and  the  other  lies  beside  it. 
The  cist  was  on  the  natural  surface  of  the  ground,  and  it  was  paved  with 
rounded  pebbles.  Over  the  cist  was  a  stone  cover.  Over  this  cover  of  the 
cist  some  earth  had  been  put,  then  a  part  of  a  stone  sculptured  with  the 
elephant  figure.  The  stone  had  been  broken,  but  the  portion  remaining  shows 
the  incised  figure  distinctly.  Over  this  stone  with  the  figure  some  earth  had 
been  put,  then  another  stone  cover,  over  which  the  cairn  had  been  raised. 
The  cist  in  which  the  urn  and  dagger  were  found  was  4  feet  10  inches  long, 
2  feet  9  inches  wide,  and  2  feet  10  inches  in  depth.  It  lay  east  and  west. 
AVhen  opened  the  urn  lay  on  its  side  near  the  middle  of  the  south  side  of  the 
cist,  and  the  dagger  lay  near  the  west  end. 

The  stone  with  the  elephant  figure,  the  urn,  and  the  dagger  are  kept  in  the 
house  of  Linlathen.  Mr  Erskine  has  another  urn,  larger,  of  better  material, 
and  more  ornamental  than  the  one  found  in  the  cairn.  It  was  found  in  the 
bank  in  front  of  Linlathen  House.  Among  the  family  portraits  in  the  mansion 
there  are  some  by  Eaeburn  and  some  other  old  Scotch  artists.  There  are  also 
some  good  old  portraits  and  Holy  Families  collected  by  the  late  Mr  Erskine 
in  Italy.     The  library  is  very  extensive. 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  there  is  a  property  called  Legsland,  of  the 
annual  value  of  £100.  This  property,  under  the  name  of  W'ellbank,  was 
acquired  by  .John  Alison,  merchant  in  Dundee.  The  estate  now  belongs  to 
Miss  Dorothea  Munro  Maclean,  and  Colin  George  Macrae,  W.S.,  Edinburgh. 


Chap  XLV.]        ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIFIETH.  411 

In  addition  to  the  lands  there  is  a  quarry  of  excellent  freestone  on  the  property, 
•which  has  been  wrought  for  300  years.  Parts  of  the  lands  have  been  feued 
to  various  parties,  who  have  erected  dwellinghouses  on  their  plots,  which, 
unitedly  with  other  contiguous  dwellings,  form  a  small  village. 

In  the  Valuation  Eoll  of  1683  the  first  entry  is  "  Ballumbie  with  his  fishings," 
£1300;  then  "fishings  of  Broughty  and  feu-duty,"  £300.  In  the  Roll  of 
1822,  the  first  entry  is  "  Monifieth,  &c.,"  and  the  second  as  above,  the  value 
of  both  being  the  same  as  in  1683.  "  Ballumbie"  was  the  Hon.  James  Maule, 
who  was  then  the  proprietor  of  the  estate  of  Ballumbie,  in  the  parish  of 
Murroes.  The  Hon.  W.  Maule  is  entered  as  the  proprietor  of  both  in  the 
Eoll  for  1822. 

Since  the  Valuation  Eoll  of  1683  was  made  up,  several  of  the  estates  entered 
in  it  have  been  divided  and  new  names  given  to  portions  of  them,  which  makes 
it  difficult  to  identify  some  of  the  lands  included  in  the  old  Eoll. 

The  Grange  was  divided  into  South  and  North  on  29th  September,  1795, 
but  they  have  been  re-united.  Part  of  Linlathen  was  added  to  Pitkerro  on 
7th  April,  1804.  Ethiebeaton  was  divided  into  two  parts,  but  they  have  been 
again  re-united.  Ardownie  was  divided  on  20th  May,  1766,  into  Ardownie 
and  Ashludie  and  Meadows,  holding  off  the  Crown  £530  2s  lOd,  and  Bal- 
dovie,  holding  off  a  subject  superior  £136  10s  6d.  In  1822  both  divisions 
belonged  to  Sir  James  Eamsay,  Bart.  A  portion  of  Ardownie  appears  to  have 
been  called  Baldovie,  but  no  lands  of  that  name  are  in  the  Rolls  made  up  in 
the  present  or  recent  years,  and  we  do  not  know  their  present  name,  and  can- 
not identify  them.  Balgillo,  Forth  (now  Forthill),  and  fishings  have  been 
repeatedly  divided.  In  the  last  division,  on  7th  April,  1804,  the  lands  pur- 
chased by  the  trustees  of  David  Erskine  formed  one  section,  £446  3s  8d  ;  lands 
belonging  to  General  Hunter  of  Burnside,  including  the  field  called  the  Kailpot, 
£122  Os  lid ;  lands  of  Forth  and  cunningair,  £98  8s  9d=£666  13s  4d.  We 
do  not  know  the  field  called  the  Kailpot.  Nor  do  we  know  "  Rupis  "  of 
Broughty,  which  belonged  to  the  Kyds  of  Craigie,  of  which  William  Kyd  was 
served  heir  on  13th  May,  1663  (Ret.  No.  402),  mentioned  above. 

The  Durhams  of  Grange  were  proprietors  of  Omachie  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  they  continued  in  possession  till  after  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  The  last  of  the  name  of  Durham  who  possessed  lauded  property  in 
the  parish  of  Monifieth  was  Patrick  Durham  of  Omachie.    After  nis  death  in 


413  ANGUS  OE  rOEFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

1760  the  barony  of  Omachie,  which  included  The  Laws  and  other  lands,  came 
into  possession  of  David  Millar  of  Ballumbie.  The  barony  was  subsequently 
subdivided,  portions  having  been  given  off,  as  related  in  the  proprietary  account 
of  EthiebeatoD,  Laws,  &c.  Omachie  was  afterwards  acquired  from  the  trustees 
of  the  late  John  Millar  of  Ballumbie  by  James  Neish  of  The  Laws,  and  The 
Laws  and  Omachie  Avere  once  more  united  in  one  laird.  The  annual  valuation 
of  Omachie  in  the  Eoll  of  1683  was  £400.  The  lands  are  now  vested  in  the 
trustees  of  Mr  Xeish. 

In  1876  the  late  Sir  David  Baxter,  Baronet,  of  Kilmaron  founded  the  Dun- 
dee Convalescent  Home  at  Barnhill.      He  defrayed  the  expense  of  erecting 
and  furnishing  the  building,  and  provided,  along  with  his  friends,  an  endow- 
ment of  £20,000  for  the  annual  maintenance  of  the  Home.      Miss  Baxter  of 
Balgavies  has  since  added  the  sum  of  £5000  for  the  same  purpose,  and  others 
have  given  £1200.      The  Home,  which  has  been  erected  on  a  sloping  field, 
having  a  fine  southern  exposure,  about  half  a  mile  to  the  north  of  the  Tay,  is 
a  large,  handsome  building  capable  of  accommodating  50  patients.     It  is  sur- 
mounted by  a  lofty  spire,  and  behind  the  building  are  the  necessary  offices, 
dining  hall,  &c.,  &c.     The  field  extends  to  about  seven  acres,  and  is  cultivated 
for  the  use  of  the  inmates,  and  as  airing  ground  for  the  patients.      At  the 
entrance  gate  is  a  neat  lodge,  and  there  is  a  bowling  green  on  the  west  of  the 
Home.      The  management  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Directors  of  the  Dundee 
Boyal  Infirmary,  some  of  whom  visit  it  statedly.     It  is  under  the  charge  of  a 
matron,  who  lives  in  the  Home,  and  the  Home  and  grounds  are  kept  in  good 
order.     It  is  an  admirable  institution,  calculated  to  do  much  good  to  the  class 
for  which  it  was  erected,  and  does  great  honour  to  the  family  by  whom  it  was 
erected  and  endowed. 

Among  the  industries  at  Monifieth  we  may  include  the  nurseries  on  the  east 
side  of  the  village  belonging  to  W.  P.  Laird  &  Sinclair.  This  firm  began 
busiuess  at  Blackness,  in  the  west  end  of  Dundee,  in  1833,  and  the  business 
was  continued  there  for  25  years.  They  theu  acquired  land  in  Monifieth, 
which,  by  additions  subsequently  made,  now  extends  to  nearly  40  acres.  The 
nursery  has  a  fine  southern  exposure,  is  tastefully  laid  out,  and  divided  into 
square  sections  for  convenience  in  working.  It  contains  an  extensive  collection 
of  choice  flowers,  shrubs,  and  trees  of  almost  every  variety  usually  raised  in 
such  establishments,  and  in  all  stages  of  their  growth.  The  grounds  are 
traversed  by  several  walks,  from  which  the  plants  are  seen  to  advantage ;  and 


Chap.  XLVI.]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIKIE.  413 

as  the  public  are  freely  admitted,  many  take  advantage  of  the  privilege,  which 
is  much  appreciated  by  the  villagers  and  by  the  summer  visitors  who  frequent 
Monifieth.  The  firm  employ  in  all  about  40  hands,  who  have  steady  employ- 
ment. It  is  now  half  a  century  since  the  business  was  first  established,  which 
speaks  well  for  the  intelligent  perseverance  of  the  firm. 

Chap.  XLYI.— MONIKIE. 

The  Church  of  Monecky  (Monikie)  was  in  the  diocese  of  Brechin.  It  was 
rated  in  the  Old  Taxation  at  forty  pounds  (Reg.  de  Aberb.,  241).  It  is  called 
in  old  documents  JMoniekyn,  Munikkin,  Monieky,  &c.  It  was  gifted  to  the 
Abbey  of  Arbroath  by  King  William  the  Lion,  1189-1199,  and  confirmed  by 
him,  1211-1214,  and  by  Pope  Honorii,  1219.  In  1574  Arbirlett,  Pambryde, 
and  Monekie  were  served  by  Charles  Michelson,  minister,  who  had  a  stipend 
of  £'100,  and  kirk  lands,  Henrie  G-rief  was  reidare  at  Monikie,  with  a  salary 
of  £14  (Mis.  Wod.  Socy.,  352).  We  do  not  know  to  what  saint  it  Avas 
dedicated,  and  there  is  no  fountain  near  the  Church  with  the  name  of  any  saint 
to  indicate  the  patron. 

The  parish  is  nearly  triangular  in  shape,  about  seven  miles  in  length  from 
north-west  to  south-east,  and  five  miles  in  breadth.  It  is  bounded  by  Guthrie 
and  Carmyllie  on  the  north,  by  Panbride  on  the  east,  on  the  south  by  Barry 
and  Monifieth,  and  on  the  west  by  Murroes  and  Inveiarity.  It  contains 
9027"112  acres,  of  which  106-002  are  water.  The  parish  is  divided  into  zones 
by  ranges  of  hills  which  cross  it  from  east  to  west.  To  the  south  of  the  ridge 
called  Dovvnie  Hill  the  land  slopes  towards  the  estuary  of  the  Tay,  is  composed 
of  rich  soil  with  a  gravelly  subsoil,  and  is  very  productive  ;  and  having  a  sunny 
exposure,  the  crops  come  early  to  maturity,  and  are  of  fine  quality.  The 
farmers  are  masters  of  their  business,  and  take  the  most  possible  out  of  their 
land.  On  the  north  of  the  ridge  the  soil  is  less  productive,  the  climate  moist 
and  cold,  and  the  crops  are  lighter  and  later,  and  more  precarious.  To  the 
north  of  this  district  the  ground  rises  still  higher,  and  much  of  it  is  muirish 
and  only  fit  for  pasturage.  The  drainage  from  this  district  is  collected  into 
drains,  and  conveyed  to  the  Craigton  reservoirs  belonging  to  the  Dundee  Water 
Commissioners,  whence  most  of  it  is  taken  to  Dundee.  This  northern  section 
of  the  parish  is  bleak  and  cold,  and  it  contains  little  that  is  attractive  to  a 
stranger. 

The  lands  of  Monzeky  (Monikie)  were  for  a  long  time  in  possession  of  the 


414  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Lindsays.  Alexander  Lindsay  of  IMonikie  is  mentioned  in  1516,  Mr  John 
Lindsay  of  Monikie  in  1528,  and  David  Lindsay  of  Monikie  in  1562  (Lives, 
Vol.  I.,  p.  442).  There  had  also  been  a  David  Lindsay  of  Monikie  in  1587. 
In  most  of  the  larger  divisions  of  the  barony  of  Downie  there  had  been  a  tower 
or  fortalice,  generally  called  a  castle.  There  was  one  at  Monikie  on  the  rising 
ground  about  250  yards  to  the  north  of  the  Parish  Church,  a  considerable  part 
of  which  was  standing  in  the  beginning  of  this  century.  The  only  remains  of 
it  now  known  are  two  triangular  stones  built,  the  one  above  the  other,  into 
the  front  of  a  cottage  adjoining  the  farm  steading  of  Kirkton.  On  the  upper 
of  these  are  the  letters  D.  L.  :  B  .E.,  and  the  date  1578,  with  some  portions  of 
the  family  arms,  &c.  Some  sculptures  are  on  the  other  stone,  but  the  weather 
and  moss  have  made  them  so  indistinct  that  we  cannot  say  what  they  are.  A 
few  years  ago  there  were  a  number  of  large,  old,  hardwood  trees  standing  near 
the  site  of  the  old  castle,  but  they  have  disappeared. 

The  lands  of  Monikie  and  many  other  lands  in  the  parish  held  off  the  Priory 
of  Eesteneth.  The  following  are  the  lands  so  held,  and  the  sums  paid  annually 
for  each,  as  given  in  the  Aldbar  Miscellany  :— Lands  of  barony  of  Downy,  10 
merks  ;  lands  of  Carlungy,  5  merks ;  lands  of  Cambustone,  10s;  lands  of 
Downiekane,  15s  ;  lands  of  Balhungy,  10s ;  lands  of  Ardesty,  10s ;  lands  of 
Moniky,  5s  4d ;  lands  of  Pitairey,  6s  8d  ;  lands  of  Guildry,  12d  ;  lands  of 
Stotf'ald,  2s;  lands  of  Dunfynd,  10s;  lands  of  Newbigging,  4s;  Mill  of 
Downy,  2s. 

Some  of  the  lands  in  Monikie  were  acquired  by  the  Fletchers  of  Inverpeffer 
early  in  the  17th  century,  if  not  sooner.  On  21st  May,  1658,  Sir  Robert 
Fletcher  of  Inverpeffer,  son  of  Sir  Andrew  Fletcher  of  Inverpeffer,  knight. 
Senator  of  the  College  of  Justice,  was  retoured  (No.  312)  in  the  barony  of 
Inverpeffer,  comprehending,  among  other  lands,  those  of  the  lands  and  town  of 
Stolfaulds,  Fallaws,  Leadside,  and  Kirkhill,  wMth  pasture  in  the  moor  of 
Monikie,  called  Northmure,  in  the  parish  of  Monikie— A. E.  13s  4d,  N.E.  4m. 

The  Parish  Church  of  Monikie  was  erected  in  1812  partly  on  the  site  of  its  pre- 
decessor. It  is  a  comparatively  plain  quadrangular  edifice,  with  large  pointed 
windows  fronting  the  south,  and  smaller  ones  on  the  north  side.  Some 
improvements  were  made  recently  on  the  interior  of  the  Church,  and  it  is  now 
very  comfortable.  A  small  belfry  is  perched  on  the  west  gable.  On  tlir  bell 
is  a  Latin  inscription,  of  which  the  following  is  a  transcription  : — 
Albertvs  .  Cely  .  Fecit  .  Aberdoniae  .  1718. 


Chap.  XLVL]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIKIE.  415 

We  think  it  very  probable  that  the  previous  Church  of  Monikie  had  been 
erected  in  or  about  that  year,  and  that  the  bell  had  been  got  for  the  new 
Church.  Most  of  the  old  bells  in  the  churches  in  the  country  were  cast  on  the 
Continent  of  Europe,  but  Monikie  bell  is  of  Scotch  manufacture,  and  the  tone 
is  pleasing.  An  enclosed  graveyard  surrounds  the  Church,  in  which  are  many 
monuments,  some  of  them  old  and  moss-covered,  dating  from  the  beginning  of 
the  18th  century,  but  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  level  the  ground  or 
arrange  the  stones.  A  good  manse  and  garden  adjoin  the  Church  on  the  east, 
and  the  Monikie  burn  flows  past  church  and  manse  at  a  little  distance  to  the 
south.  The  situation  is  pleasant,  and  some  well-grown  trees  shelter  the  manse, 
&c.,  from  windy  blasts.     The  glebe  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  manse. 

Adjoining  the  east  side  of  the  Craigton  reservoir  is  a  very  handsome  Free 
Church,  with  a  pretty  spire,  a  comfortable  manse,  and  a  large  walled 
garden,  which  were  erected  some  time  after  the  Disruption.  The  late  Fox 
Maule,  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  on  whose  property  they  stand,  contributed  very 
liberally  towards  the  cost  of  the  buildings.  The  shrubs  and  trees  planted 
around  the  erections  are  now  of  some  size,  and  beautify  and  shelter  the  premises. 

There  is  a  Board  School  and  a  Free  Church  School  in  the  parish,  so  that 
the  educational  interests  of  the  inhabitants  are  well  cared  for. 

The  first  known  proprietor  of  Auchinleck  (Gaelic=t\ie  field  of  broad  or  flag 
stones),  now  usually  called  Affleck,  was  Mathew  le  Naper  de  Aghelek,  designed 
of  the  shire  of  Angus,  who  did  fealty  and  took  the  oaths  of  allegiance  to 
King  Edward  I.  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed  in  1296.  Of  this  baron  or  his  family 
nothing  is  known  beyond  this  act  of  homage. 

Shortly  after  this  date  a  son  of  Le  Napier,  or  some  other  person  who  may 
have  acquired  the  barony,  assumed  it  as  a  surname,  as,  on  15th  March,  1306, 
John  de  Aghelek  did  homage  to  the  same  King  for  his  lands  in  the  county  of 
Forfar.  These  lands  are  in  this  parish,  and  the  barony  was  then  of  consider- 
ably greater  extent  than  it  now  is.  The  family  continued  to  hold  the  lands 
for  upwards  of  three  centuries,  but  they  took  little  share  in  national  affairs, 
and  none  of  their  acts  occupy  much  space  in  the  annals  of  the  kingdom  ;  but 
Auchinleck  of  that  ilk  appears  as  a  witness  to  several  local  charters.  James 
of  Auchinleck  is  mentioned  on  18th  May,  144.5. 

The  Lindsays,  Earls  of  Crawford,  were  superiors  of  the  barony,  and,  in 
1459,  the  Earl,  by  the  avisement  of  Lindsay  of  the  Halch,  hereditary  Constable 
of  the  Castle  of  Finhaven,  renewed   the  marches  and  bounds  of  Auchinleck. 


41 G  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

The  chief  of  the  family  was  hereditary  armour-bearer  to  the  Earls  of  Craw- 
ford, and  one  of  his  councillors.  About  thirty  years  before  the  renewal  of 
the  marches,  Sir  John  Auchenleck,  knight,  the  then  baron,  married  a  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Boswell  of  Balmuto,  in  Fife.  After  Sir  John's  death  Lady  Auchen- 
leck married  Durham  of  Grange  of  Monifieth.  Sir  John's  predecessor  appears  to 
have  been  Sir  Alexander  Auchenleck  of  that  ilk,  he  having  acquired  the  pro- 
perty of  Barras,  in  the  Mearns,  from  the  co- heiresses  of  Melville  of  Glenbervie 
about  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century. 

The  Auchenlecks  were  a  well  known  family  in  Dundee,  several  members  of 
it  having  been  burgesses,  and  some  of  them  magistrates,  James  Auchinleck 
was  Provost  in  1593,  and  William  Auchinleck,  after  having  been  repeatedly 
Dean  of  Guild,  was  Provost  of  Dundee  in  1619.  On  28th  July,  1610,  Gilbert 
of  Auchinleck  succeeded  his  father  Robert  (Ret.  73). 

On  some  of  the  tombstones  in  the  Howff  their  armorial  bearings  and  quaint 
mottoes  and  inscriptions  may  still  be  seen.  One  upon  Archibald  Auchinleck 
and  his  wife,  dated  1647,  is  very  curious.  The  fine  old  castle  of  Affleck  was 
built  by  some  of  the  members  of  this  family.  It  stands  on  an  elevated  situation 
a  short  distance  to  the  west  of  the  Reservoirs  belonging  to  the  Dundee  Water 
Commissioners.  It  commands  a  most  extensive  view,  including  part  of  the 
Tay,  the  eastern  part  of  Fife,  the  Isle  of  May,  the  German  Ocean,  and  portions 
of  Angus.  The  castle  consists  of  a  lofty,  massy,  square  tower,  having  con- 
siderable resemblance  to  the  "  Border  Peel  "  common  in  the  south  of  Scotland. 
It  is  of  four  storeys  in  height,  surmounted  by  a  flag  tower  and  capehouse.  The 
walls,  which  are  of  great  thickness  and  solidity,  are  built  of  squared  ashlar 
stones,  which  are  still  sound  and  perfect  as  when  built,  no  appearance  of  decay 
being  visible.  The  roof  is  covered  with  flagstones,  and  the  battlements  are 
entire  and  may  be  traversed  in  safety.  The  lower  storeys  are  arched  with 
stone,  the  roofs  being  circular,  and  a  stone  staircase  leads  from  the  ground  to  the 
parapet,  having  openings  to  each  floor.  The  upper  floors  are  of  oak,  and  strong 
massy  beams  and  joists  of  oak  support  the  roof. 

The  chief  apartment  is  on  the  third  floor,  and  it  occupies  the  entire  area 
within  the  walls  of  the  castle.  It  bears  evidence  of  having  been  ornate,  and 
the  fireplace,  which  had  been  spacious,  still  shows  traces  of  carvings  and 
mouldings.  Entering  off  this  room  are  two  small  bedclosets  and  a  small 
oratory,  each  of  which  is  in  the  walls,  which  show  them  to  be  of  great  thick- 
ness. Jervise  says — "  In  the  oratory,  which  measures  seven  feet  six  inches  by 
six  feet  two  inches,  a  benatura,  a  piscina,  and  an  ambry  stiU  remain,  along 


Chap,  XLVL]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIKIE.  417 

with  some  architectural  ornaments,  among  which  is  a  shield  witli  three 
lozenges."  Massy  doors  of  oak  and  an  iron  yett  or  gate  defended  the  entrance, 
and  near  the  door  are  small  holes  in  the  wall,  bevelling  outwards,  for  shooting 
arrows  and  other  missiles  from  within.  The  windows  are  small,  and  protected 
by  iron  bars.     A  few  years  ago  the  iron  yett  was  removed. 

A  similar  iron  gate  or  yett  is  still  to  be  seen  at  the  Castle  of  Invermark,  in 
Glenesk,  and  at  Inverquharity,  on  the  banks  of  the  South  Esk,  near  Kirriemuir. 
In  feudal  times  a  special  license  from  the  Sovereign  was  necessary  before  an 
iron  yett  could  be  erected  on  a  castle,  and  the  deed  authorising  the  Lord  of 
Inverquharity  to  erect  one  is  still  extant  among  the  archives  of  the  Ogilvies. 
It  was  granted  by  James  II.  in  1445.  The  yetts  at  Inverquharity,  at  Inver- 
mark, at  Auchinleck,  and  at  Braikie  were  of  similar  construction,  and  we  may 
therefore  infer  that  this  castle  had  been  erected  and  the  iron  gate  put  on  about 
the  same  period,  and  that  the  renewal  of  the  marches  took  place  shortly 
thereafter.  If  this  inference  is  correct,  Affleck  Castle  must  be  nearly  four 
centuries  and  a  half  old.  Though  thus  hoary  with  age,  it  is  still  in  better  pre- 
servation than  any  other  of  the  non-inhabited  old  baronial  castles  in  Angus. 
Were  it  not  that  the  accommodation  it  affords  is  neither  of  the  description  nor 
extent  which  modern  tastes  and  fashions  consider  necessary  for  health  and  com- 
fort, it  might  still  be  inhabited  by  the  owners.  Many  veteran  trees  of  great 
age  and  size  surround  and  adorn  the  castle. 

On  18th  April,  1665,  Gilbert  Auchinleck  of  that  ilk  was  retoured  (No.  414) 
in  the  lands  of  Auchinleck,  in  the  barony  of  the  same,  as  heir  of  Gilbert 
Auchinleck  of  that  ilk,  his  father  or  grandfather.  It  is  probable  that  the  son 
or  grandson  who  succeeded  in  1665  was  the  last  of  the  name  who  owned  the 
property,  and  that  he  sold  the  lands ;  as,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century  the  barony  passed  from  the  Auchinlecks  to  a  family  named  Kobert 
Eead,  but  of  their  lineage  or  history  little  is  known.  Thomas  Reid  of 
Auchinleck  in  1733  presented  a  silver  communion  cup  to  the  Kirk  Session 
of  Dundee.  A  Thomas  Eeid  was  one  of  the  assessors  of  the  Guildry,  a  few 
years  prior  to  that  date,  and  as  the  donor  of  that  cup  must  have  had  intimate 
connection  with  Dundee,  it  is  probable  that  the  donor,  the  assessor,  and  the 
laird  had  been  one  and  the  same  person.  The  family  had  been  keen  Jacobites, 
as  were  many  in  Dundee  in  1715  and  1745.  The  head  of  the  house  took  part  in 
the  rebellion  of  1745,  and  for  his  adlierence  to  the  Stuarts,  what  remained  of 
the  estate  was  forfeited  in  1746.  Mr  lleid  escaped  to  France,  and  his  wife 
and  family  subsequently  joined  him  there.  About  the  beginning  of  last 
3g 


418  ANGUS  OE  FOEFARSHIRE,  [Part  XIV. 

century  one  of  the  Eeids  sold  part  of  the  barony  to  a  person  named  Smith,  of 
Camno,  who  called  his  purchase  "  Smithfield."  His  son  John,  second  of  Smith- 
field,  married  a  daughter  of  William  of  Douglas,  who  was  ancestor  of  the  family 
of  Brigton,  in  Kinnettles,  and  Provost  of  Forfar.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr  Robert 
Douglas,  Bishop  of  Brechin.  Mr  Smith's  only  child,  Catherine,  married  John 
Fife  of  Dron,  and  banker  in  Edinburgh.  By  the  death  of  a  descendant  of 
theirs,  who  was  a  merchant  in  Glasgow,  the  estate  came  to  Major  David  Fyffe 
of  The  Lodge,  Broughty  Ferry,  and  of  Logie,  Dundee,  whose  lady  being  of  the 
family  of  Brigton,  was  a  descendant  of  the  Bishop  of  Brechin,  and  subsequently 
of  Dunblane.  The  estate  of  Smithfield  was  acquired  by  the  late  John  Shiell, 
solicitor,  Dundee,  and  it  now  belongs  to  his  Trustees. 

After  the  forfeiture  of  Reid,  the  castle  and  remaining  lands  of  Auchinleck 
were  purchased  by  James  Yeaman,  one  of  the  Bailies  of  Dundee.  This  ftimily 
continued  to  reside  in  the  castle  until  the  year  17G0.  About  that  period,  or 
shortly  thereafter,  Mr  Yeaman,  or  his  son  and  successor,  erected  a  fine  manor 
house  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  castle.  It  is  replete  with  every  modern  con- 
venience, and  is  large  and  commodious.  The  two  buildings,  the  old  castle 
and  the  modern  mansion,  contrast  strangely  with  each  other,  but  not  more  so 
than  did  the  manners,  habits,  and  customs  of  the  denizens  of  the  old  keep 
differ  from  the  tastes,  the  modes  of  life,  and  the  practices  of  the  occupants  of 
such  dwellings  at  the  present  time.  Nearly  two  centuries  ago  Ochterlony  de- 
scribes the  castle  as  "  ane  old  high  tower  house,  which  is  seen  at  a  great  distance 
at  sea,  and  it  is  used  for  a  landmark  by  those  that  come  in  the  river  of  Tay." 

The  estate,  with  the  old  castle  and  the  new  manor  house,  was  sold  by  a 
descendant  of  Bailie  Yeaman  to  Graham  of  Kincaldrum,  in  Inverarity. 

Thev  were  subsequently  acquired  by  James  Mitchell,  railway  contractor, 
Broughty  Ferry,  and  now  belong  to  his  Trustees. 

The  Auchinlecks  of  that  ilk  anciently  possessed  the  lands  of  Balmanno,  in 
the  parish  of  MaryMrk.  St  John's  Well  is  there,  and  in  old  times  there  had 
probably  been  a  place  of  worship  there. 

There  is  good  freestone  on  the  estate,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  castle  had 
been  built  with  stone  taken  from  a  quarry  on  the  estate.  Several  feus  have 
been  given  off  and  dwellings  built  upon  them.  A  large  seed  crushing  mill 
was  recently  erected  on  a  part  of  the  estate,  with  a  number  of  houses  for  the 
people  employed  at  the  mill. 

Some  further  details  regarding  Auchinleck  will  be  found  in  the  proprietary 
account  of  Smithfield,  afterwards  given. 


Chap.  XLVL]         ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONIKIE.  419 

There  is  a  tradition  in  the  parish  that  Auchinleck  was  occupied  in  succession 
by  some  twelve  generations  of  the  name  of"  Gilbert  Auchiuleck."  The  records 
of  the  Kirk  Session,  which  commence  in  1615,  are  to  some  extent  confirmatory 
of  this,  a  number  of  the  name  of  Grilbert  Auchinleck  being  entered  for  baptism, 
the  witnesses  being  invariably  two  of  the  three  lairds  of  Kirkbuddo,  Pitau'lie, 
and  Guthrie. 

The  Castle  of  Auchinleck  is  mentioned  by  Monipennie  in  1612  (p.  170). 

A  great  part  of  what  was  afterwards  the  thanedom,  then  the  barony  of 
Downie  belonged  to  the  Celtic  Earls  of  Angus.  Duncan  de  Dunny,  who  was 
one  of  the  perambulators  of  the  marches  of  Tulloes  and  Conan  in  1254  (Reg. 
de  Aberb.,  325),  may  have  held  part  of  the  lands  under  the  superiority  of  that 
family,  and  taken  his  surname  from  them.  The  lands  afterwards  became  the 
property  of  the  Abernethys,  the  male  line  of  which  ended  in  Alexander  de 
Abernethy.  He  left  three  co-heiresses,  one  of  whom,  Mary,  was  married  to  Sir 
David  Lindsay  of  Crawford,  circa  1315-1320,  and  with  her  he  obtained  the 
barony  of  Downie  and  other  lands  (Doug.  I.,  p.  373).  Sir  James  Lindsay  of 
Crawford  gifted  Duny  and  other  lands  to  the  Abbey  of  Cupar. 

In  Mem.  of  A.  and  M.,  p.  402,  it  is  said  that  Sir  James  Lindsay  of  Craw- 
ford gave  the  Convent  of  Cupar  the  lands  of  Little  Pert,  Duny,  and  Clair,  in 
Angus.  In  the  Reg.  de  Cup.,  Pref.  xix.,  he  is  called  Sir  David  Lindsay 
of  Crawford,  and  in  the  copy  of  the  confirmation  charter  of  the  lands  by  King 
Robert  Bruce,  dated  at  Dunkeld,  5th  October,  1309,  and  attested  at  Dundee 
same  year  (Vol,  II.  p.  290),  he  is  called  Alexander  of  Lindsay.  The  Duny  or 
Downie  given  the  Abbey  by  the  Lindsays  was  in  Glenisla,  and  not  in  the 
parish  of  Monikie.  The  Lindsays  had  been  proprietors  of  both  "  Downies." 
Not  being  sure  of  the  donor,  we  cannot  give  the  date  of  gift.  The  Earl  of 
Crawford  gave  an  annual  of  twelve  merks  from  the  lands  of  Dunfynd  and 
Downycane,  in  the  barony  of  Downie,  to  the  altar  of  Our  Lady  at  Dundee, 
to  have  mass  celebrated  for  the  souls  of  his  ancestors,  and  his  own  after  hi* 
death.  Charter  confirmed  at  Dundee,  10th  December,  1406,  by  Regent 
Albany  (In.  to  Ch.,  161-7). 

David  II.  granted  a  charter  of  the  Miln  of  Downy  to  John  Mas- 
culo  (In.  to  Ch.,  p.  39-52).  In  Robertson's  "Scotland  under  Her  Early 
Kings,"  Vol.  11. ,  p.  490,  it  is  said  the  appellation  Masculus,  Le  Male, 
attached  to  an  ancient  Angus  flimily  in  early  times,  seems  to  have  been  per- 
petuated with  the  old  broad  pronunciation  under  the  form  of  Maule."      The 


420  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

John  Masculo  wlio  received  the  charter  of  the  Mill  of  Downie  from  David  II. 
may  therefore  have  been  John  Maule.  The  same  King  granted  a  charter  to 
A\  illiam,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  and  Margaret  Bruce,  sister  to  the  King,  of 
the  barony  of  Downy,  in  vie.  Forfar  (Do.,  63-53).  The  barony  had  then 
been  vested  in  the  Crown.     This  family  did  not  retain  the  barony  long. 

On  8th  June,  1371-2,  Robert  II.  granted  at  Perth  a  charter  to  Sir  Alex- 
ander de  Lyndesay  of  Glenesk,  third  son  of  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  Crawford,  of 
the  King's  lands  of  the  thanage  of  Downy,  in  Vic.  Forfar,  cum  hondis, 
londagiis,  nativis  et  eorum  seqnelis,  &c.  (In.  to  Ch.,  96-307;  Doug.  I.,  374). 
By  that  charter  he  was  entitled  to  the  services  payable  by  the  hondi  or  hus- 
bandmen. It  also  made  him  owner  of  the  nativi  or  serfs,  and  of  their  children 
in  the  thanage.  This  shows  that  serfs  and  their  children  were  the  born  slaves 
of  the  proprietors  of  the  land  in  Scotland  five  centuries  ago,  and  might  have 
been,  and  were,  bought  and  sold  as  slaves  were  in  the  United  States  until  a 
comparatively  recent  period. 

King  Robert  III.  granted  to  David,  Earl  of  Crawford  (between  1398-1405) 
a  charter  of  the  barony  of  Downy,  Achebetoun,  and  several  other  lands  (In.  to 
Ch.,  142-87).  Some  time  after  the  date  of  that  charter,  the  barony,  which  con- 
sisted of  the  lands  of  Ardestie,  Auchinleck,  Balhungie,  Carlungie,  Denfind, 
Downieken,  Ethiebeaton,  Monikie,  Pitairlie,  and  others,  both  on  the  south 
and  north  of  l^ownie  Hill,  became  broken  up  into  small  sections,  owned  by 
various  parties. 

The  Durhams  of  Grange,  about  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  century,  acquired 
the  lauds  of  Ardestie,  and  they  retained  them  till  after  the  middle  of  the  16th 
century,  if  not  longer.  They  acquired  (Ket.  No.  70)  the  lands  of  Denfind  in 
1544,  On  27th  January,  1610,  William  Durham  succeeded  his  father, 
William  Durham  of  Grange,  in  same— N.E.  £16.  David,  8th  Earl  of  Craw- 
ford, had  a  charter  of  two  parts  of  the  dominical  lands  of  Downie  on  12th 
March,  1538-9  (Doug.  I.,  378).  David,  11th  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  Griselda 
Stewart,  his  wife,  had  a  charter  of  the  barony  on  11th  December,  1581  (Doug. 
I.,  p.  380).  A  branch  of  the  Lindsays  were  proprietors  of  Monikie.  We 
give  below  details  of  the  proprietors  who  owned  some  of  the  lands. 

The  Lindsays  of  Balgavies  were  proprietors  of  Balhungie  and  Carlungie  in 
the  16th  century.  On  18th  February,  1606,  David  Lindsay  of  Balgavies  was 
retoured  (No.  49)  heir  to  Sir  Walter  Lindsay,  knight,  his  father,  in  Carlungie 
and  Balhungie.  On  19th  June,  1610,  Thomas  Fotheringham  of  Powrie  suc- 
ceeded his  father  Thomas  (Ret,  71)  in  the  third  part  of  Balhungie  and  of  the 


Chap.  XLVI.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MONIKIE.  421 

dominical  lands  of  Downie.  On  26th  June,  1618,  William  Fullarton  of  that 
ilk,  heir  of  Sir  William,  his  father,  succeeded  (Ret.  103)  in  another  third  part 
of  same  lands. 

On  1st  January,  1615,  George  Lindsay,  second  son  of  Sir  Henry  Lindsay 
of  Careston,  was  retoured  (No.  84)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Downie,  lands 
of  Ardestie,  Balhungie,  Downieken,  Cotton,  Brewland  of  Downie,  Knightshill, 
and  Smithyhillock— A.E.  £50,  N.E.  £200.  On  6th  July,  1622,  Robert 
Erskine,  heir  of  his  father,  Robert  of  Ardaistie,  was  retoured  (No.  140)  in  the 
lands  of  Ardaistie  ;  lands  of  Muirdrum  and  Oxingang,  in  the  barony  of 
Downie;  part  of  outfield  land  and  brewery  of  Downikaine  ;  four  parts  land 
called  the  four  buttis  of  Downikaine,  4  ac.  and  3  roods  arable  land,  in  said 
barony— A.E.  £3  15s,  N.E.  £15. 

On  21st  May,  1582,  James  Bollock,  heir  of  George  of  Duncrub,  his  father, 
was  retoured  in  the  corn  mill  of  Cambiston,  in  the  barony  of  Downie — 
N.E,  £6  13s  4d ;  and  in  the  half  lands  of  Chapeltown  of  Balgowie  or  Over 
Corstoun— N.E.  4  merks,  on  27th  January.  The  barony  of  Downie  subse- 
quently came  into  possession  of  the  Maules  of  Panmure. 

On  5th  March,  1629,  Patrick  Maule  of  Panmure  had  a  charter  of  the 
barony  of  Downie  (Doug.  II.,  p.  354).  He  was  afterwards  (on  2d  August, 
1646)  created  Earl  of  Panmure.  On  1st  April,  1662,  George,  Earl  of  Pan- 
mure, was  retoured  (No.  385)  in  the  lands  in  the  barony  of  Downie,  and  many 
others,  as  heir  of  Earl  Patrick,  his  father.  On  16th  May,  1671,  Earl  George, 
as  heir  of  his  father  Earl  George,  was  retoured  (No.  449)  in  the  same  lands  ; 
and  on  27th  April,  1686,  Earl  James  succeeded  to  same  lands  as  heir  of  Earl 
George,  his  brother  (No.  501). 

The  barony  of  Downie  was  forfeited  in  1716  in  consequence  of  Earl  James 
taking  part  in  the  Rebellion  of  1715,  as  was  also  all  the  Earl's  other  lands,  but 
they  were  subsequently  repurchased  by  Earl  William,  as  related  below,  and 
since  then  they  have  continued  in  the  Maules,  and  in  their  descendants  and 
representatives,  the  present  proprietor  being  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie.  There 
are  still  traces  to  be  seen  of  the  foundations  of  the  old  Castle  of  Downie 
on  a  mound  at  Old  Downie.  The  Castle  of  "  Duniken"  was  in  existence  when 
Monipennie  wrote  in  1612  (p.  170). 

In  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  the  lands  in  this  parish  belonging  to  the 
Panmure  family  are  entered  thus:— Earl  of  Panmure,  £1140  ;  Countess  of 
do.  for  her  liferent  lands,  £2085  =.£3225.  At  a  later  period  the  whole  lands 
were  called  "  Panmure,"  and  they  were  divided  in  1767  thus — 


422  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

1.  Balhungie,  Easter  Monikie,  and  Hynd  Castle,  disponed  in 

liferent  to  William  Turnbull,  ....    £402  18     5 

2.  Castleton,  Hyndfaulds,  Segwall,  and  Muirdrum,  disponed  to 

David  Greig, 421     6    0 

3.  Denfind,   Midtoim,  and  Hillhead  of  Monikie,  disponed  to 

David  Allardice,    .  .  .  .  .  .      412    8    0 

4.  Carlungie,  Mill  of  Downie,  and  Mill  lands,  disponed  to  Robert 

Colvill, 482  13  10 

5.  Graystone  of  Ardesty,  Mill  of  Cambuston,  and  Mill  lands, 

disponed  to  James  Mill,     .  .  .  .  .      447  18  10 

6.  Locbmyllie,  Brae  of  Downie,  and  Kirkton  of  Monikie,  dis- 

poned to  Jobu  Bouchart,  ....  434  12    8 

7.  Downiekean  and  Cambuston  and  pendicle,  called  Little  Cam- 

buston, disponed  to  William  Kerr,  .  ,  .       423  18  10 

9.  Ardesty  and  Ward  of  i\Ionikie,  retained,  .  .  199     3    5 


£3225    0    0 


In  1822  tbese  lands  all  belonged  to  Hon.  W.  Maule,  also 
Pitairlie  and  Guildie — £136  13s  4d  in  1683 — afterwards  called 

"  Part  of  Panmure."     In  1822  tbey  belonged  to  Hon.  W. 

Maule,       .' 136  13    4 

James,  4tb  Earl  of  Panmure,  was  forfeited  in  1716  for  taking  part  in  the 
Rebellion  in  1715.  Earl  William  repurchased  the  forfeited  estates  in  For- 
farshire on  20th  February,  1764,  for  £49,157  18s  4d.  He  died  on  4th 
January,  1782,  so  that  the  above  division  of  the  lands  in  Monikie  took  place 
during  the  lifetime  of  Earl  William  in  the  peerage  of  Ireland.  We  do  not 
know  the  object  for  disponing  these  lands,  but  in  terms  of  the  entail  by  Earl 
William,  they  came  to  his  grandnephew,  Hon.  Wm.  Ramsay,  who  assumed 
the  surname  of  Maule,  and  is  the  Hon.  W.  Maule  above  mentioned. 

The  lands  of  Ardestie  formed  part  of  the  barony  of  Downie.  The  Lindsays 
appear  to  have  disposed  of  these  lands  to  the  Durhams  of  Grange  of  Monifieth  in 
the  beginning  of  the  16th  century.  James  Durham  was  designed  of  Ardestie  in 
1530  (MS.  at  Pan.),  and  they  continued  in  possession  for  some  time  thereafter. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  17th  century  the  lands  were  acquired  by  the  Lords  of 
Panmure. 

The  old  chapel  of  Ardestie  stood  in  the  vicinity  of  the   castle,   and 


Chap.  XLVI.]         ANGD'S  IN  PAEISHES— MONIKIE.  423 

"  Kane's  Well"  was  near  it,  but  no  trace  of  the  castle  is  now  to  be  seen,  and 
no  well  of  that  name  is  now  known  about  Ardestle  by  the  tenant  of  the  farm. 
The  Earls  of  Panmure  resided  at  Ardestie  for  some  time,  and  "  James,"  the 
last  Earl  of  Panmure,  was  born  there.  Earl  George  married  Lady  Jane 
Campbell,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Loudon,  and  by  her  had  three  sons 
and  a  daughter.  The  two  eldest  sons  succeeded  as  third  and  fourth  Earls  of 
Panmure  respectively,  and  the  third  was  Henry  Maule  of  Kelly.  The  Earl 
left  Countess  Jane  the  use  of  all  his  moveables  during  her  widowhood,  and 
appointed  her  tuterix  of  his  children.  She  took  up  her  residence  at  Ardestie 
and  hved  there. 

Two  of  the  carved  stones  of  the  old  house  or  castle  are  built  into  the  modern 
farm  house  of  Ardestie,  erected  in  1801.  They  bear  f,  I.H.S.,  and  a  human 
heart  pierced  by  a  dagger  or  the  end  of  a  spear.  The  cross  is  above  the  three 
letters.  On  another  stone  are  C.I.C.P  :  1G88,  for  Countess  Jane  Campbell  of 
Panmure.  On  the  south  end  of  two  cottages  south  from  the  farm  steading 
there  is  a  stone  in  each,  on  one  of  which  is  M.A.R. ;  on  another  D.I.A.,  1625, 
and  some  carvings. 

The  lands  of  Cambuston  were  included  in  the  barony  of  Downie.  The 
Maules  of  Panmure  were  very  desirous  to  obtain  them  from  the  Lindsays. 
Thomas  Maule,  whose  father  fell  at  Harlaw  in  1425,  made  a  requisition  to 
David,  Master  of  Crawford,  to  give  in  borch  (surety  or  warranty)  the  lands  of 
Kambyston.  He  made  a  second  requisition,  and  a  third.  To  the  last  the  Master 
answered  that  his  father  liad  written  to  forbid  him  to  give  said  lands  in  borch, 
and  therefore  he  declined  to  do  so  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  p.  22). 

On  25th  November,  1431,  an  instrument  was  expede  by  Sir  Thomas  i\[aule 
on  the  boundaries  between  his  lands  of  Cambuston,  and  adjoining  lands  in  the 
barony  of  Downie,  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  of  the  moors  of  the 
baronies  of  Downie  and  Panmure.  The  boundary  is  said  to  run  by  the  stone 
cross  of  Cambuston  (i  o.,  p.  24)  (No.  241).  Camiston  was  the  only  estate 
given  to  Alexander  Maule,  son  of  Sir  Thomas,  and  he  is  designed  of  Camiston 
in  1474  (Do  ,  249).  He  died  before  his  father,  who  died  in  1498,  and  his  son, 
Sir  Thomas,  succeeded.  He  fell  at  Flodden  (Do.,  p.  27).  On  13th  August, 
1494,  John,  Master  ot  Crawforl,  gave  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Cambuston 
and  mill  of  same  to  his  cousin  Thomas  Maule  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  258).  Of  same 
date  the  Master  of  Crawford  gave  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Carlungy  to  Thomas 
Maule  in  warranty  of  the  lands  of  Camiston  and  the  mill  thereof,  which  had 


424  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

been  sold  by  the  Master  to  Thomas  Maiile.  They  were  subsequently  recon- 
veyed  to  the  Master  (Do.,  No.259).  On  30th  September,  1526,  David,  Earl 
of  Crawford,  gave  a  charter  of  Camiston  and  mill  thereof  to  Robert  Maule  and 
Isabella  Merser,  his  wife  (Do.,  No.  301).  On  8th  May,  1609,  David,  12th 
Earl  of  Crawford,  gave  a  charter  of  the  lands  of  Cambuston,  in  the  barony  of 
Downie,  to  Patrick  Maule  (Reg.  de  Pan.,  317-8). 

The  lands  of  Carlungie  and  Balhungie,  part  of  Downie,  belonged  to  Sir 
Walter  Lindsay  of  Balgavies,  whose  castle  of  Balgavies  was  burned  down  by 
order  of  James  VI.  Sir  Walter  was  slain  by  David,  the  "  Wicked  Master,"  in 
1605.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  David,  who  died  in  1615.  Walter,  his 
son,  succeeded,  and  he  sold  the  lands. 

On  28th  June,  1608,  David,  Earl  of  Crawford,  heir  of  his  father.  Earl 
David,  was  retoured  (No.  63)  in  half  the  barony  of  Downie,  lands  of  Ardesty, 
Balhungy,  Downieken,  Cotton,  Brewlands  of  Downie,  and  many  other  lands. 
It  appears  from  this  retour  that  the  Balgavies  family  had  owned  half  of  the 
lands  of  Balhungie  only.  Nearly  a  century  and  a  half  thereafter  the  lands  of 
Carlungie  and  Balhungie  were  acquired  by  the  Maules  from  the  Lindsays,  and 
they  have  since  then  been  included  in  the  Panmure  estate. 

The  lands  of  Denfind  were  included  in  the  barony  of  Downie,  but,  like  other 
portions  of  the  barony,  Denfind  was  for  a  long  time  a  distinct  estate,  and  had  its 
castle,  the  residence  of  the  laird.  The  lands  remain,  but  the  tower  or  castle 
disappeared  long  ago. 

A  little  to  the  west  of  the  farmhouse  of  Denfind,  formerly  Dunfind,  there  is 
a  deep  ravine  called  "  Denfiend,"  through  which  a  rivulet  runs.  It  is  crossed 
by  a  lofty  bridge  of  one  arch  on  the  road  from  Dundee  to  Monikie.  In  Lind- 
say of  Pitscottie's  History,  p.  104-5,  it  is  called  the  Fiend's  Den,  because  a 
brigand  with  his  family  dwelt  in  it.  "  He  had  an  execrable  fashion  to  all  young 
men  and  children  that  he  could  steal  or  obtain  by  other  means,  and  take  them 
home  and  eat  them.  The  younger  they  were  he  held  them  the  more  tender 
and  delicate.  For  these  acts  he  was  burned  with  his  wife,  bairns,  and  family, 
except  a  young  lass  of  one  year  old,  who  was  saved  and  taken  to  Dundee,  where 
she  was  brought  up  ;  but  when  she  came  to  woman's  years,  she  was  condemned 
and  burned  quick  for  the  same  crime  her  father  and  mother  were  convicted  of. 
A  great  crowd,  chiefly  women,  attended  at  the  execution,  cursing  her  for  her 
crimes.      To  them  she  said—'  Why  chide  ye  me  as  if  I  had  committed  a 


Chap.  XLVI.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES.— MONIKIE.  425 

crime.  Give  me  credit,  if  ye  had  the  experience  of  eating  human  flesh  you 
would  think  it  so  delicious  that  you  would  never  forbear  it  again.'  And  so 
she  died,  without  sign  of  repentance." 

Sir  John  Lindsay  of  Brechin  and  Pitcairlie  (Pitairlie)  fourth  son  of  David, 
third  Earl  of  Crawford,  died  in  1453  (Lives,  p.  443).  He  was  slain  at  the  Battle 
of  Brechin.  He  was  ancestor  of  the  House  of  Pitairlie  (A.  or  F.  Vol.  I. ,  p.  319). 
David  Lindsay  of  Pitairlie  was  a  witness  to  a  charter  of  one  third  of  Pitskelly 
to  Kohert  Carnegie  of  Kinuaird,  signed  at  Dundee,  25th  March,  1542  (Aid. 
Mis.,  p.  201).  The  same  or  another  David,  1544-50.  David  Lindsay  of  Pit- 
airlie was  minister  of  Abirlemna,  Fynevin,  Inneraritie,  and  Kirkbuddo  in 
1574,  with  a  stipend  of  £133  6s  8d  (Mis.  Wod.  Soc,  p.  350)  ;  John  Lindsay 
of  same,  1589-93  ;  Alexander  Lindsay  of  same,  llJ09-2l-o9  (Lives  L,  p.  443). 

The  lands  of  Pitairlie  remained  in  the  Lindsays  until  some  time  after  the 
following  letour,  which  we  give  at  length,  as  it  iiichides  other  details  besides 
the  lands  of  Pitairlie  and  others.  The  lands  mentioned  in  the  retour  formed 
part  of  the  ancient  thanedom  and  barony  of  Downie,  There  was  a  castle  at 
Pitairlie  in  early  times.  The  only  remains  of  it  is  a  stone  built  into  the  wall 
of  the  farm  offices  bearing  the  initials  and  date,  A.L  :  I.C,  1G31.  Alexander 
Lindsay  mentioned  above  was  laird  at  that  date. 

On  29th  May,  1655,  Alexander  Lindsay  of  Pitairlie,  heir  of  Alexander 
Lindsay  of  Pitairlie,  his  fiither,  was  retoured  in  the  lands  of  Pitairlie  ;  part  of 
the  Moor  of  Downie  lying  contiguous  to  said  lands,  vv^ithin  the  barony  of 
Downie— O.E.  20s,  N.E.  £4  ;  the  lands  of  Guildy  and  part  of  the  Moor  of 
Downie — O.E.  16s,  N.E.  i;3  4s  ;  a  tenement  called  the  Earl's  Lodging  within 
the  burgh  of  Dundee,  and  patronage  of  the  chaplainrie  founded  within  the 
foresaid  lodging ;  the  Craig  called  St  Nicholas  Craig,  within  the  sea-flood  of  the 
said  burgh  of  Dundee,  and  fortalice  ;  the  advocation  of  the  chaplanrie  of  All 
Saints,  situate  within  the  parish  kirk  of  Dundee — O.E.  3s  4d,  N.E.  13s  4d  ; 
an  annual  rent  furth  of  the  late  King's  great  customs  of  the  burgh  of  Dundee. 

The  lands  of  Pitairlie  subsequently  came  into  possession  of  the  family  of 
Panmure,  in  which  they  still  remain,  the  Earl  of  Dalhousie  being  the  present 
proprietor  of  Pitairlie,  and  all  the  other  lands  detailed  above,  which  were  in- 
cluded in  the  barony  of  Downie. 

The  ruins  of  Hynd   Castle  stand   on  a   round,  green  mound,  near  the 
north-west  point  of  this  parish,  close  hy  the  road  from  Dundee  to  lirechin, 
and  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  Dundee  and  Forfar  Direct  iiailvvay.    The  mound 
3h 


426  ANGUS  OE  FORFARSHIKE.  [Past  XIV. 

appears  to  be  artificial,  and  is  not  of  much  height.  On  the  summit  are  a  few  trees 
surrounding  ruinous  walls,  perhaps  ten  feet  in  height,  and  about  half  as  many 
feet  in  thickness.  The  area  they  enclose  is  about  twelve  feet  square,  with  a 
door  on  one  side,  and  a  window  on  each  of  the  other  three  sides.  The  remains 
of  Dilty  Moss,  one  of  the  sources  of  the  Kerbet,  are  at  a  short  distance  to  the 
east  of  the  castle.  History  is  silent  about  this  ruin,  and  it  is  not  known 
when,  by  whom,  or  for  what  purpose  it  had  been  erected.  It  is  too  small  to 
have  been  the  residence  of  one  of  the  lairds,  and  none  but  they  had  castellated 
dwellings.  The  castle  was  too  near  the  great  moss  with  the  small  lake  in  its 
centre  to  have  been  a  pleasant  abode  for  any  family  of  note.  It  had  at  one 
time  been  surrounded  by  water  and  a  morass.  The  moss  was  exhausted  and 
the  lake  drained  many  years  ago,  and  part  of  the  site  is  now  cultivated  land. 

A  little  to  the  west  of  Hynd  Castle,  on  the  ridge  which  divides  this  parish 
from  Inverarity,  there  was  a  very  large  heap  of  stones,  called  Haercairns  or 
Hoar  Cairn,  which  probably  were  raised  over  the  bodies  of  the  combatants 
slain  at  a  great  battle  fought  there  in  very  early  times,  but  of  the  time,  the 
parties  engaged,  or  the  result  we  are  ignorant.  Many  of  the  stones  have  been 
carted  oif.  Locally  it  is  said  to  have  been  the  burial  place  of  all  the  suicides  of 
the  district.  The  Gallows  Hill  is  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  the  criminals 
executed  may  have  been  buried  there.  Many  human  bones  have  been  found 
under  the  stones. 

On  the  highest  summit  of  Downie  Hill,  in  the  parish  of  Monikie,  stands  the 
matmificent  column  called  the  "  Live  and  Let  Live  "  Testimonial.  It  was 
erected  in  the  year  1831),  at  the  sole  expense  of  the  numerous  tenantry  on  the 
vast  estates  of  the  Kight  Honourable  William  Ramsay  Maule,  first  Lord  Tan- 
mure,  "  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  a  nobleman  who,  through  a  long  life, 
made  the  interests  and  comforts  of  his  tenantry  his  sole  and  unwearied  object," 
The  Testimonial  is  a  worthy  memorial,  fitted  alike  to  express  the  gratitude 
and  liberality  of  the  tenantry,  and  the  worth  and  kindness  of  heart  of  the  land- 
lord to  whom  it  was  erected.  The  Testimonial  consists  of  a  broad  lower  base- 
ment of  rustic  work,  in  which  are  apartments  for  the  reception  of  visitors  and 
other  ])urposes;  a  quadrangular  upper  basement,  the  angles  of  which  are 
flanked  witli  0[)en  buttresses  ;  and  a  colossal  cylindrical  column,  rising  up  into 
a  balustrade,  and  surmounted  by  a  lotty  ornamental  vase.  A  stone  pillar  rises 
in  the  centre  of  the  cylinder,  in  the  interior  of  which  there  is  a  lightning  con- 
ductor, and  with  a  spiral  staircase  on  its  exterior.      The  height  of  the 


Chap.  XLVI.]         ANGUS  IN  PAEISHES— MONIKIE.  427 

Testimonial  from  the  ground  to  the  top  is  105  feet.  In  a  niche  in  the  visitors' 
room  are  a  marble  bust  of  the  noble  Lord  by  Sir  John  Steele,  and  an  inscribed 
marble  tablet  telling  the  story  of  the  Testimonial.  The  design  was  by  John 
Henderson,  Edinburgh.  The  site  of  the  Testimonial  was  admirably  chosen. 
The  hill  is  500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  isolated  from  other  high  grounds, 
and  commanding  an  uninterrupted  prospect  of  vast  extent  in  every  direction. 
From  the  balustrade  a  large  portion  of  seven  counties  can  be  seen,  and  from 
its  position  it  is  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  landmarks  on  the  east  coast  of 
Scotland.  The  Testimonial  is  about  a  mile  distant  from  Panmure  House, 
whence  there  is  a  fine  drive.  Camus  Cross  stands  within  two  or  three  lumdred 
yards  of  the  Testimonial.  The  grounds  around  the  Testimonial  and  Camus 
Cross  are  beautifully  laid  out  and  finely  kept,  and  a  visit  to  the  ancient  and 
modern  memorials  is  instructive  and  pleasing. 

The  Douglas  estate  in  this  parish  is  of  considerable  value,  though  not  of 
large  extent.  It  consists  of  the  farms  of  Denside  and  Dodd,  and  of  several 
pendicles  at  Bankhead,  in  the  western  district  of  the  parish,  which  abuts  into 
the  parish  of  Murroes,  and  adjoins  Carrot  Hill.  We  have  already  given  the 
proprietary  progress  of  others  of  the  Douglas  lands  in  the  county,  and  need 
not  repeat  it  here.     The  present  proprietor  is  the  Earl  of  Home. 

The  lands  of  Newbio:Q:in2  were  of  old  included  in  the  baronv  of  Dowuie. 
They  were  acquired  by  George  Dempster  of  Dunnichen  in  the  first  half  of  the 
18th  century.  They  afterwards  came  into  possession  of  David  Millar  of  Bal- 
lumbie,  who  disponed  them  to  David  Kerr  in  1821.  Subsequently  they  came 
into  possession  of  his  son,  Thomas  Kerr  of  Grange  and  Newbigging.  He  died 
in  1879,  and  left  the  lands  of  Newbigging  to  Thomas  Leburn  Drimmie,  son 
of  the  deceased  Daniel  Drimmie  of  Panmurefield,  who  is  the  present  jjroprietor 
of  Newbigging.  A  part  of  the  lands  has  been  given  off  in  feus,  upon  which 
good  houses  have  been  erected.  In.  the  Valuation  Koll  of  1G83  the  annual 
value  of  the  property  was  £180,  but  it  is  now  considerably  more  than  double 
that  sum.  There  is  a  good  mansion  on  the  estate,  and  there  is  also  a  neat 
United  Presbyterian  Church  with  manse  and  garden. 

Henry  Smith,  second  son  of  Henry  Smith  of  Glasswall  and  Camno,  was 
bred  a  merchant  in  Dundee.  He  acquired  part  of  the  barony  of  Auchinleck 
or  Affleck  in  the  later  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He  gave  his  lands  the 
name  of  Smithfield.    He  married  a  daughter  of  Duncan  of  Strathmartiue,  by 


428  ANGUS  OR  FOEFARSHIRE.  [Papt  XIV. 

whom  he  had  a  son  and  daughter,  and  he  died  in  172G.  John  Smith,  his  son, 
succeeded,  and  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  ^Tilliam  Douglas,  Provost  of 
Forfar,  son  of  Robert  Douglas,  bishop  of  Dunblane,  descended  of  the  house  of 
Glenbervie,  and  by  her  bad  a  son  and  two  daughters.     He  died  1737. 

Henry  Smith  of  Smithfield  succeeded  on  the  death  of  his  father.  He  was 
a  merchaut  in  London,  and  married  Emslia,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Nairn  of 
Dunsinane,  Bai*t.,  who  died  without  issue.  On  7th  April,  1758,  John  Fyfe, 
younger  of  Dron,  obtained  decree  against  Henry  Smitli  of  Smithfield,  as  heir 
of  his  father,  John  Smith  of  Smithfield.  Henry  Smith  married  secondly,  in 
1768,  Christian,  daughter  of  David  Graham,  advocate,  by  Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
daughter  of  William  Murray  of  Abercairny. 

Tn  the  Valuation  Roll  of  1683  Auchinleck  is  entered  at  £QQCy  13s  4d.  Be- 
fore 1748  it  was  divided  into  two  portions,  which  in  the  Roll  for  1822  are 
called  Affleck  and  Smithfield.  The  former  was  owned  by  James  Fyffe,  i'533 
6s  8d  ;  and  the  latter  by  James  Yeaman,  £133  16s  8d — together,  £666  13s  4d. 
Thomas  Read  was  jiroprictor  of  Affleck  before  the  Yeamans, 

James  Fyffe  was  succcided  in  Smithfield  by  Major  Fyffe,  who  resided  for 
some  time  at  the  Lo>lge  in  Brouglity  Ferry.  The  Major  retained  the  estate 
until  1842.  Major  David  Fyffe,  born  "J  8th  April,  1781,  married  18th  Septem- 
ber, 1816,  Helen,  fifth  daughter  of  William  Douglas  of  Brigton.  He  was  a 
son  of  David  Fyffe  of  Drumgeith  by  his  wife  Ann,  only  daughter  of  David 
Hunter  of  Burnside.  Major  Fyffe  had  a  brother  Charles,  born  1785,  and  died 
1801,  and  two  sisters,  Barbara,  died  1811,  and  Elizabeth  Bell,  married  to 
Robeit  Kerr  of  Clatto,  Koxburghshire.  Major  Fyffe  had  a  family  of  six  sons 
and  a  daughter.     Several  of  the  sons  died  young. 

MAJOR  FYFFE'S  ARMS. 

Arms. — Or,  a  lion  rampcant,  gu.,  armed  and  langued,  az.,  on  a  chief,  of  the  second,  a 
crescent,  between  two  stars,  of  the  first. 
Crest. — A  demi-lion  as  in  the  arms. 
Motto. — Decens  et  honestum. 

He  was  succeeded  in  the  property  by  John  Shiell,  solicitor  in  Dundee. 
John  bhiell  of  Smithfield  married  Alexandrina  Ursula  W  ilhelmina,  daughter 
of  George  Lewis  Korn  of  Hanover,  and  by  her  had  George  Anthony  Shiell, 
born  1842,  and  other  issue.  Mr  Shiell  of  Smithfield  was  a  J.P.  for  the 
county  of  Forfar.  He  died  in  1875.  His  son,  above  mentioned,  was  called 
to  the  Bar  at  the  Middle  Temple,  and  goes  the  Northern  Cii'cuit. 


Chap.  XLVI.]         ANGUS  IN  PAPJSHES.— MONIKIE.  429 

The  estate  of  Smitbfield  is  now  in  possession  of  David  Small  and  others,  the 
Trustees  of  the  late  John  Shiell. 

The  account  of  the  family  of  Smith  of  Glasswall  and  Camno,  previous  to 
their  acquiring  part  of  Auchinleck,  is  given  supra,  p.  6-7. 

When  the  first  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  was  written,  about  1790, 
the  best  land  in  the  parish  was  let  at  from  five  to  fifteen  shillings  the  acre, 
generally  on  leases  of  twice  nineteen  years  and  a  lifetime,  and  the  farmers, 
who  were  industrious,  were  in  opulent  circumstances.  Rents  were  then 
advancing,  and  any  farms  falling  in  to  the  proprietor  were  readily  bring- 
ing double  the  previous  rent.  The  breeding  and  fattening  cattle  occupied 
much  of  the  attention  of  the  farmers  in  the  southern  section  of  the  parish, 
where  the  farms  were  generally  enclosed.  The  report  says  wheat  had  long 
been  cultivated  in  that  section,  but  for  six  or  seven  years  it  had  been  discon- 
tinued, several  of  the  farmers  having  met  with  considerable  losses  by  blasting. 
In  the  year  in  which  the  report  was  written  they  had  begun  to  try  it  again. 

About  1783  a  new  road  from  Dundee  to  Brechin,  passing  through  the 
northern  part  of  the  parish,  was  formed.  Upon  tliis  road  a  strong  bridge, 
65  feet  high,  with  a  single  arch  over  a  precipice  at  Denfiend,  or  the  Fiend's 
Den,  was  built  in  1784.     The  origin  of  the  name  of  the  den  is  already  related. 

About  1750-GO  a  farm,  which  in  1790  was  worked  by  three  ploughs,  having 
each  four,  and  sometimes  only  two  horses,  employed  five  cattle  ploughs,  having 
each  ten  oxen.  Farms  where  two  ploughs  drawn  by  four  horses  do  the  work, 
at  an  earlier  period  required  three  ploughs,  each  drawn  by  ten  oxen. 

About  1775  several  stone  coffins  Avere  discovered  on  the  ridge  of  small  hills 
called  the  Cur  Hills,  also  some  stone  cists  in  which  were  urns  containing  ashes. 
In  that  neighbourhood  there  were  also  found,  upwards  of  six  feet  below  the 
surface,  several  oak,  fir,  and  birch  trees.  To  the  south  of  the  Cur  Hills  there 
were  found,  among  marl,  about  nine  feet  below  the  surface,  several  heads  of 
deer  with  horns  of  a  considerable  size. 

Stone  pillars  and  crosses  are  frequently  mentioned  in  old  Scotch  charters  as 
boundaries.  The  Cross  of  Cambuston  is  so  mentipned  in  a  deed  of  agreement 
between  Sir  Thomas  IMaule  of  Panmure  and  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  dated  25th 
November,  1481.  The  line  of  march  is  said  to  run  "  a  magna  Cruce  Lapidia 
de  Gamhystoim  (Sc.  St ,  Vol.  II. ;  Keg.  de  Pan.,  251). 


430  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 


Chap.  XLVIL— MONTROSE. 

The  old  name  of  Montrose,  and  the  period  when  it  began  to  be  known  by 
its  present  name,  have  given  rise  to  considerable  controversy.  King  Mal- 
colm IV.  (1153-65),  in  his  charter  to  the  Abbey  of  Jedburgh,  grants  the 
monks,  amongst  other  gifts,  "  the  tenth  of  his  rent  of  Salorch,  Muiiros, 
Rossie,  and  twenty  shillings  for  lighting  the  Church  of  Salorch.  This  charter 
was  granted  between  1159  and  1163. 

Salorch  here  mentioned  appears  to  be  the  old  name  of  Montrose.  Bruce,  in 
his  account  of  the  landing  of  the  Danes  at  Mons  Rosarum  (Montrose)  between 
the  years  970  and  992,  in  the  reign  of  Kenneth,  son  of  Malcolm  I.,  says  "  the 
town  was  then  called  Celiirca,  that  it  was  the  most  populous  town  in  Angus." 
He  describes  it  as  standing  on  the  table  land  projecting  into  the  marshes  of 
the  South  Esk,  its  walls  as  washed  by  the  waters  of  that  river  where  they 
mingle  with  the  sea ;  and  adds  that  "  its  walls  were  levelled  with  the  ground, 
its  houses  reduced  to  ashes,  and  its  inhabitants  exterminated  by  the  Danes." 

Salorch  and  Celurca  are  evidently  different  spellings  of  the  same  word. 
The  new  name  had  come  into  use  before  the  date  ot  Malcolm's  charter  to  Jed- 
burgh, and,  as  both  names  are  mentioned  in  it,  we  may  conclude  that  the 
territorial  district  was  called  Salorch  or  Celurca,  while  the  town  itself  was 
called  Montrose— indeed,  internal  evidence  afforded  by  the  charter  supports 
this  conclusion. 

Bishop  Arnold  of  St  Andrews,  who  was  contemporary  with  King  Malcolm, 
confirmed  the  King's  charter.  These  two  charters  were  discovered  among  the 
muniments  at  Salton  iu  1851,  having  been  previously  unknown  to  the  owner, 
and  to  charter  scholars.  They  are  most  interesting  charters,  and  have  thrown 
much  light  on  subjects  connected  with  Angus  before  unknown,  especially  those 
relating  to  the  Priory  of  Resteneth  and  its  connection  wuth  the  distant  Abbey 
of  Jedburgh. 

In  "  Memorials  of  Angus  and  Mearns,"  Mr  Jervise  says  that  the  Church  of 
Salorch  did  not  denote  the  original  Church  of  Montrose,  and  he  supposes  that 
it  may  have  been  the  place  now  called  Tayock.  Mr  Fraser,  in  the  preface  to 
the  History  of  the  Carnegies  of  Southesk,  is  of  a  different  opinion,  as  he 
believes  Salorch  to  be  Montrose.  If  a  charter,  said  to  have  been  granted  by 
David  I.  to  his  burgesses  of  the  lands  of  Salorkis  be  genuine,  it  would  settle 


Chap.  XLVII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES,— MONTROSE.  431 

the  matter  that  Salorch  and  Tayock  were  two  distinct  places,  both  being  men- 
tioned separately  in  it. 

In  former  times  the  greater  part  of  what  is  now  the  landward  parish  of 
Montrose  was  known  as  Logie-Montrose.  In  the  Roll  of  1683  the  lands  were 
divided  into  five  estates— Logie,  valued  rent,  £433  6s  8d ;  Kinnaber,  £800  ; 
Borrowfield,  £366  13s  4d ;  Tayock,  £100;  and  Hedderwick,  £600— in  all, 
£'2300.  Since  then  some  of  these  estates  have  been  divided  and  subdivided. 
Newman's  Walls  and  Charleton  were  included  in  Logie.  These  were  acquired 
by  the  laird  of  Tarrie.  In  the  Roll  of  1822  Newman's  Walls  belonged  to  G. 
F.  Carnegie,  £66  13s  4d,  and  A.  Renny  Tailyour  is  entered  for  the  remainder, 
£36G  13s  4d — together,  £433  6s  8d.  Kinnaber  included  Rosemount.  On 
13th  February,  1797,  divided  thus  : — That  part  on  north  of  road  from  North- 
water  Bridge  to  Hedderwick,  sold  to  John  Duncan,  £406  4s  ;  fisliings  of  Mary- 
Net,  belonged  to  G.  F.  Carnegie,  £64  18s  8s ;  remaining  lands  of  Kinnaber, 
same  proprietor,  £328  17s  4d  =  £800.  Borrowfield  and  Tayock  remained 
intact  in  1822,  the  former  belonging  to  A.  Renny  Tailyour,  and  the  latter  to 
James  Cruickshank.  Hedderwick  included  Newbigging  and  Claylake  On 
6th  November,  1807,  divided  thus : — The  valued  rent  of  Newbigging,  James 
Cruickshank,  £69  lis  8d ;  Claylake  and  part  of  Hedderwick,  30th  April, 
1821,  Gr.  F.  Carnegy,  £29  7s;  remainder  of  estate  to  George  Robertson  Scott, 
£501  Is  4d — in  all,  £600.     These  valuations  were  for  taxation. 

The  landward  parish  of  Montrose  is  not  of  large  extent,  the  parish  being 
chiefly  burghal.  The  lands  had  been  chiefly  vested  in  the  Crown  in  the 
beginning  of  the  13th  century.  King  William  the  Lion  (1165-1214)  granted 
to  Sir  David  of  Graham,  elder,  knight,  a  charter  of  the  larids  of  Borrowtield, 
Charlton,  and  Kynnaber,  and  the  fishings  of  the  water  of  the  North  Esk,  for 
the  service  of  a  bowman  in  the  King's  army.  Gillibryde,  Earl  of  Angus, 
witnesses  the  charter. 

Among  the  charters  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Southesk  are  several  by  King- 
Robert  I.  to  his  gallant  and  fliithful  adherent,  Sir  David  of  Graham,  of  the 
lands  above-named,  and  of  the  lands  of  Old  Montrose,  dated  at  Scone,  5th 
March,  1325.  There  is  also  one  by  King  Robert  II.  confirming  the  charter 
by  King  William,  mentioned  above.  In  it,  after  the  expression  anent  fish- 
ings, it  is  added,  "  wherever  the  water  runs."  The  charter  is  dated  28th  July, 
1390  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  No.  45).  Probably  the  year  should  be  1389,  as  the 
King  died  on  19th  April,  1390.      Borrowfield  remained  in  possession  of  the 


432  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIEE.  [Part  XIV. 

Grahams  until  1408,  when  Sir  William  Graham  disposed  of  the  lands  to 
Alexander  Garden  or  Gardyne. 

The  chief  of  the  Borrowfield  branch  of  the  Gardynes  fell,  fighting  in  support 
of  the  Ogilvj^s,  at  the  battle  of  Arbroath  in  1442-3.  Within  twenty  years 
thereafter  Patrick  Gardyne  of  Borrowfield  was  acting  in  the  Councils  of  the 
Earl  of  Crawford,  and  he  witnessed  some  of  the  Lindsay  charters. 

Alexander  Gardyne,  first  of  Borrowfield,  witnesses  a  charter  by  Mariot 
Carnegie  on  2d  February,  1409,  and  another  by  Sir  Alexander  Fraser,  of  the 
resignation  of  the  barony  of  Kinnell  in  favour  of  Peter  Stirling  and  his  son, 
John,  in  1410.  John  Gardyne  of  Borrowfield  was  a  witness  on  30th  March, 
1446  :  William  Gardyne  of  same  Avas  a  juror,  28th  April,  1483  ;  John  Gar- 
dyne of  same  was  one  of  an  assize  at  a  retour  to  John  Carnegie  at  Dundee, 
16th  May,  1508  ;  William  Gardyne  of  same  is  mentioned  1st  January,  1514 
(H.  of  C.  of  S.).  The  Gardynes  retained  possession  of  Borrowfield  until  1615, 
when  the  property  was  sold  to  11  ercules  Tailzeour,  a  merchant  in  Montrose. 

The  Gardynes  of  Borrowfield  had  probably  been  cadets  of  the  parent  stem, 
the  Gardynes  of  that  ilk,  although  they  appear  as  early  as  the  chief  of  the 
name.  The  family  may  have  possessed  Gardyne  for  a  long  time  before  the 
name  had  found  its  way  into  documents  yet  made  public. 

I.  Hercules  Tailyour,  who  acquired  the  estate  of  BorrowfielJ  in  1615,  was 
succeeded  in  the  lands  and  manor  by  his  son, 

II.  Hercules  Tailyour,  who  was  served  heir  to  his  father  on  23d  October, 
1662  (No.  393)— A.E.  £5,  N.E.  £20.  He  married  Katherine,  eldest  daughter 
of  the  second  James  Scott  of  Logic,  and  by  her  had  an  only  daughter  and 
heiress, 

III.  Elizabeth  Tailyour,  who  was  married  to  her  cousin-german,  Robert 
Tailyour,  who  succeeded  to  Borrowfield  in  1688.     Their  eldest  son, 

IV.  Robert  Tailyour,  next  inherited  Borrowfield.  He  married  Katherine, 
second  daughter  of  the  fourth  James  Scott  of  Logie,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son, 

V.  Hercules  Tailyour,  who  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Sir  William 
Ogilvy,  Hart.,  of  Barras,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 

VI.  Robert  Tailyour,  who  died  unmarried,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister. 
VIL  Elizabeth  Jean  Tailyour,  who  in  1773  was  married  to  Robert  Penny, 

grandson  of  Patrick  Penny  of  Usan.  He  died  in  1787,  and  they  had,  with 
otlicr  children  who  died  unmarried,  Alexander,  the  heir ;  Hercules,  late 
Lieut.- Col.  H  M.  service,  who  married  Margaret  Ness,  and  had  issue  ;  Charles, 


CiiAP.  XLYII.]      ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.— MONTROSE.  433 

in  H.M.  40th  regiment,  killed  at  the  storming  of  Monte  Video  in  1806; 
Catherine,  married  to  T.  Bruce  of  Arnot,  and  died  1804 ;  Juliet,  who,  in  June 
1817,  was  married  to  Anthony  Adrian,  Earl  of  Kintore,  and  died  in  July 
1819  ;  and  Kobina.     The  eldest  son, 

Ylll.  Alexander  Renny,  on  succeeding  to  his  mother  in  1806,  added,  by 
the  directions  of  her  last  will,  the  surname  of  Tailyour  to  that  of  Kenny, 
assumed  the  Tailyour  crest,  and  quartered  the  Eenny  arms  with  those  of  Tail- 
your. He  was  born  31st  .January,  1775,  and  on  7th  April,  1808,  married 
Elizabeth  Bannerman,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Alexander  Ramsay,  Bart.,  of 
Balmain,  and  by  her,  who  died  21st  October,  1825,  had  issue — Robert,  born 
26th  April,  1809,  and  died  unmarried  16th  June,  1832  ;  Alexander  Ramsay, 
born  22d  August,  1810,  and  died  unmarried  6th  June,  1825  ;  Thomas,  who 
succeeded  to  the  estate  ;  William,  born  29th  April,  1814,  and  died  unmarried 
14th  October,  1839  ;  Henry,  born  9th  September,  1815,  Col.  H.M.  81st  Regi- 
ment, and  Brigadier-General  on  the  Staff  in  India,  married,  19th  June,  1851, 
Eleanor-Anne,  third  daughter  of  the  late  Robert-Rickart  Hepburn  of 
Eickarton,  and  by  her  had  Alexander  Tailyour,  Henry-Thomas,  and  Eliza- 
beth-Jane;  Elizabeth  Bannerman,  died  unmarried  1st  June,  1831;  Jane, 
born  15th  November,  1818,  and  died  8th  September,  1819  ;  and  Juliet,  died 
21st  August,  1823.     He  died  8th  September,  1849,  and  was  succeeded  by 

IX.  Thomas  Renny  Tailyour  of  Borrowiield,  his  eldest  surviving  son.  In 
1847  he  married  Isabella  Eliza,  second  daughter  of  the  late  Major  Adam 
Atkinson  of  Lorbottle,  Northumberland,  by  whom  he  has  issue,  Henry 
Waugh  Tailyour,  born  1849.  In  1875  he  married  Emily-Rose,  third  daughter 
of  John  Wingfield  Stratford  of  Addington  Park,  Kent,  and  has  issue.  Mr 
Renny  Tailyour  was  educated  at  Addiscorabe,  late  of  the  Bengal  Engineers,  a 
Major  of  the  army,  Hon.  Colonel  Forfarshire  Rifle  Volunteers,  and  is  a  J.P. 
and  D.L.  for  the  County  of  Forfar. 

Close  by  Dubton  Station  is  the  mansion  of  the  proprietor  of  Borrowiield. 
It  is  not  large,  but  it  is  rather  pretty,  with  a  good  neatly  laid  out  garden  in 
front,  and  behind  it  is  a  range  of  large  trees,  with  a  plantation  to  the  west  of 
the  house  and  garden. 

ARMS  OF  RENNY  TAILYOUR  OF  BORROWFIELD. 
Arms. — Quarterly  :  1st  and  4th,  arg.,  a  saltire,  engr,  sa.,  cantoned  with  a  heart  in  chief 
and  base,  gu.,  and  a  cinquefoil  in  each  flank,  vert :  2d  and  3d,  arg.,  an  oak  tree  in 
base,  vert,  on  a  chief,  gu.,  a  pair  of  wings  conjoined,  erm. 
Crest. — A  dexter  hand,  ppr.,  holding  a  passion  cross,  gu. 
Motto. — In  cruce  salus. 

Newmanswalls,  near  Montrose. 
3i 


434  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

We  mentioned  above  that  Charleton  and  Kinnaber  were  aiso  given  by  King 
William  the  Lion  to  Sir  David  of  Graham,  and  that  these  lands  were  given 
by  The  Bruce  to  Sir  David  of  Graham,  senior,  on  5th  March,  1325.  'ihe 
lands  of  Charleton  were  designed  for  his  homage  and  service  of  three  merks 
of  land,  and  twenty  shillings  of  yearly  rent  due  to  the  King  out  of  the  lands 
of  Charleton,  and  seven  merks  of  yearly  rent  out  of  the  Thanery  of  Kinnaber, 
in  exchange  for  the  lands  of  Sokach,  in  the  Earldom  of  Carrick,  and  of  the 
Isles  of  Inchcalloch  and  Inchfad,  in  the  Earldom  of  Lennox. 

The  lands  of  Charleton  remained  for  a  long  period  in  the  family  of  Mon- 
trose. After  passing  from  them  they  went  through  several  hands,  but  there 
is  little  in  connection  with  them  of  importance.  They  were  acquired  by  the 
Strachans  of  Tarrie.  George  Carnegie  of  Pittarrow,  born  18th  November, 
1726,  who  took  part  in  the  Rebellion  of  1745,  fled  to  Sweden  thereafter,  and 
returned  to  Scotland  about  twenty  years  afterwards.  He,  in  January  1767, 
acquired  from  the  trustees  of  his  nephew,  Sir  David  Carnegie,  the  estate  of 
Pittarrow,  and  same  year  he  purchased  from  Alexander  Strachan  of  Tarrie 
the  estate  of  Charleton,  disposition  dated  5th  December,  1767. 

George  Carnegie  married  Susan,  eldest  daughter  of  David  Scott  of 
Benholm.  She  engaged  in  many  benevolent  works,  one  of  which  was  establishing 
an  asylum  for  the  insane  near  Montrose.  It  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
Scotland,  and  it  is  now  a  large  and  important  institution.  Another  was  the 
establishment  of  a  lifeboat  at  Montrose,  also  the  first  of  its  kind  in  Scotland. 
George  Carnegie  died  at  Charleton  12th  April,  1791),  and  was  succeeded  in 
Charleton  by  his  second  son,  John.  His  mother  survived  his  father  22  years, 
having  died  on  14th  April,  1821,  aged  71  years,  John  was  baptised  5th 
January,  1771.  He  married  Mary  Strachan,  niece  of  Charles  FuUarton  of 
Kinnaber,  contract  dated  23d  April,  1796. 

Captain  John  Carnegie  acquired  Kinnaber  through  his  marriage  with  this 
lady,  and  on  the  death  of  his  father  in  1799  he  succeeded  to  Pittarrow.  He 
lived  at  Kinnaber,  and  the  old  house  at  Pittarrow  was  demolished  in  1802. 
His  mother  was  liferented  in  Charleton.  He  died  at  Edinburgh  on  25th 
December,  1S05,  aged  34  years.  His  wife  died  on  6th  July,  1806,  and  on 
6th  June,  1808,  Ler  eldest  son,  George  Carnegie  Fullarton,  was  served  heir  to 
her.  He  was  born  18th  December,  1799.  He  succeeded  to  Pittarrow  on  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1805;  to  Kinnaber  on  the  death  of  his  mother  in  1806; 
and  to  Charleton  on  the  death  of  his  grandmother  in  1821.  He  got  into 
sporting  company,  and  liis  extravagance  led  to  embarrasment  and  the  sale  of 
the  three  estates. 


Chap.  XLVII.]      ANGUS  IN"  PAEISHES.— MONTROSE.  435 

Pittarrow  was  purchased  by  Alexander  Ci'ombie  of  Phesdo.  Charleton 
and  Kinnaber  were  purchased  by  Arthur  Anderson,  Aberdeen.  After  several 
changes  they  are  now  the  property  of  George  More  Gordon,  W.S.j  Edinburgh, 
in  right  of  his  wife,  Mrs  Janet  More  Gordon. 

George  Carnegie  Fullerton  published  some  volumes  of  poetry  in  1834.  In 
1833  he  married  Madeline,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  John  Connel,  kt.,  Judge 
Admiral  of  Scotland.  He  died  at  Montrose,  October  1851,  aged  52  years, 
leaving  issue.    (H.  of  G.  of  S.,  305-325.) 

The  lands  of  Hedderwick  were  included  in  tlie  lordsmp  of  Brechin,  given 
by  King  William  the  Lion  to  his  brother,  David,  Earl  of  Huntingdon.  Earl 
David  gave  the  Lordship  to  his  natural  son,  Henry,  who  then  assumed  the 
surname  of  Brechin.  The  lordship  was  owned  by  successive  members  of  this 
family.  Then,  by  the  marriage  of  Lady  Margaret,  sister  of  Sir  David  de  Brechin, 
who  was  executed  by  Robert  I.,  to  Sir  David  de  Barclay.  This  family  failed 
in  a  female,  Jean,  married  to  Sir  David  Fleming  of  Biggar.  He  owned  Hed- 
derwick, &c^  in  1340  (H.  of  C.  of  S.,  485).  Their  daughter  Margaret  was 
married  to  Walter  Stewart,  Earl  of  Athole,  and  carried  the  lordship  to  the 
Earl.  After  his  execution.  Sir  Thomas  Maule  claimed  the  lordship  in  right  of 
his  mother,  Marion  Fleming^  see  Vol.  III.,  p.  G.  He  did  not  obtain  the  lord- 
ship, but  he  afterwards  got  Claleck,  Hedderwick,  and  others.  The  Abbey 
of  Aberbrothock  obtained  the  lands  of  Hedderwick,  but  when  and  from  whom 
is  not  known.  Perhaps  they  only  possessed  the  superiority  of  the  lands. 
Abbot  Malcolm  of  Arbroath,  on  the  resignation  of  Sir  Thomas  I^Iaule,  gave 
Alexander  Maule  half  of  the  lands  of  Hatherwick  in  14G8.  The  Maules  dis- 
posed of  Hedderwick  to  Erskine  of  Dun  on  12th  August,  1490  (Keg.  de  Pan., 
254). 

The  Grahams  appear  to  have  acquired  Hedderwick  and  Clayleck  from  the 
Erskines  about  the  16th  century.  On  24th  April,  1619,  John  Graham  succeeded 
his  father,  Kobert  (Ret.  No.  117)  in  the  sunny  half  lands  of  Hedderwick  and 
Clayleck,  in  the  regality  of  Aberbrothock— A. E.  40s,  N.E.  £8.  On  5th  May, 
1625,  James,  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  was  served  heir  to  his  father.  Marquis 
James  (No.  154)  in  same  lands,  with  Mary  ton.  This  retour  was  of  the 
superiority  only  of  the  lands.  On  19th  November,  1630,  George  Erskine  of 
Kirkhuddo  was  served  heir  to  his  flither,  John  (No.  194)  in  the  half  of  the 
shadow  lands  of  Hedderwick  and  Clayleck,  On  2d  May,  1648,  David  Erskine 
was  served  heir  to  his  grandfather,  David  Erskine,  in  the  same  lands  (RqU 


43G  ANGUS  OR  FORFAESHIRE.  [Part  XIY. 

No.  302).  On  8th  February,  1650,  David  Erskine  was  served  heir  to  his 
father  George  in  the  same  lands  (No,  311j. 

The  Scotts  appear  to  have  acquired  Hedderwick  and  Claylick  from  the 
Erskines.  On  29th  April,  1659,  James  Scott  of  Logie-Montrose,  heir  of  his 
father,  was  retoiired  (No.  376)  in  the  sunny  half  of  the  lands  of  Hedderwick 
and  Claylick.  On  17th  April,  1695,  David  Scott,  son  of  Robert  Scott  of  Ben- 
holm,  heir  of  David  k-cott  of  Hedderwick,  his  father,  was  retoured  (No.  535)  in 
the  same  lands.  On  4th  August,  1696,  John  Scott  of  Hedderwick,  son  of  said 
Robert  of  I'enholm,  heir  of  David  Scott,  was  retoured  (No.  543)  in  the  same 
lands.  In  1753  Archibald  Scott  of  Usan  had  sasineof  Hedderwick.  In  1765 
he  claimed  to  be  enrolled  as  a  Freeholder  in  Forfarshire  on  Hedderwick,  &c. 

It  is  well  known  that  many  of  the  Angus  lords  and  lairds  were  keen 
Jacobites,  and  took  part  in  the  llebeUion  under  the  Earl  of  Mar  in  1715,  for 
which  some  of  them  paid  a  heavy  penalty,  their  lands  having  been  forfeited, 
and  the  owners,  landless  and  homeless,  forced  to  become  exiles  to  save  their 
heads. 

At  that  time,  when  the  Stuart  mania  was  at  its  height,  there  were  Angus 
lairds  loyal  to  the  new  dynasty.  The  proprietor  of  Hedderwick  was  certified 
as  "  having  kept  his  ground  well,"  It  was  at  Hedderwick  that  the  ministers 
of  Montrose  preached  on  the  Sabbaths  when  they  were  driven  from  their  pulpit 
in  the  town. 

The  old  house  of  Hedderwick  stands  a  little  to  the  south  of  Dubton  Station, 
with  some  old  trees  about  it.  The  mansion  is  now  occupied  by  several 
tenants  of  the  labouring  classes.  Hedderwick  is  the  property  of  George 
Robertson,  S.C,  Edinburgh. 

The  lanTis  of  Kinnaber  were  acquired  by  a  person  named  Fullerton  in,  if  not 
prior  to,  1514.  John  Fullerton  of  Kinnaber  and  Barclay  of  Ury  were  two  of 
the  earliest  in  Scotland  to  embrace  Quakerism.  They  and  their  households 
were  persecuted  by  the  Church  for  their  adiierence  to  these  opinions.  Fuller- 
ton  was  excommunicated  by  the  Presbytery  of  Brechin  in  1633.  The 
Presbytery  record  bears  that  the  sentence  of  excommunication  was  also  pro- 
nounced by  the  reverend  body  "  against  Catharine  Allardes,  Lady  Kynnaber, 
and  Sibella  Falconer,  a  domestic  servant,  for  their  adhering  to  the  scandalous 
errors  of  Quakerism." 

The  property  of  Kinnaber  remained  in  possession  of  the  Fullertons  till  near 
the  end  of  the  18th  century.      The  Fullertons  of  Kinnaber  were  an  ancient 


Chap.  XLVII.]      ANGUS  IN  PAHISHES.— MONTROSE.  437 

family  in  Angus.  Alexander  Fullerton  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Pinkiecleuch 
in  1547,  and  his  son  and  heir,  John  Fullerton,  obtained  from  Queen  Mary,  on 
1st  March,  7th  year  of  her  reign,  1549,  a  grant  of  the  ward  and  non-entry  of 
Kinnaber,  in  return  for  the  services  of  his  father  at  Pinkie.  From  this  John 
the  estate  descended  to  his  lineal  male  heirs,  the  last  of  whom  appears  to  have 
been  John  Fullerton,  whose  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  married  Eobert  Strachan, 
merchant  in  Montrose.  Their  eldest  sou,  Charles  Fullerton,  received  a  crown 
charter  of  Kinnaber  on  17th  August,  1769.  On  17th  August,  1793,  Charles 
Fullerton  of  Kinnaber  executed  a  disposition  of  that  estate  to  Mary  Strachan, 
only  child  of  his  brother,  liobert  Strachan,  then  deceased.  She  became  the 
heiress  of  Kinnaber,  mentioned  above. 

On  28th  March,  1627,  James,  Earl  of  ]\Iontrose,  heir  of  Earl  John,  his 
father,  was  retoured  (No.  168)  in  the  lands  and  barony  of  Kinnaber,  and  salmon 
fishings  upon  the  water  of  Northesk,  and  in  arinus  (sands)  of  Kynnaber  and 
Charleton  ;  and  several  other  lands.  The  Earls  of  Montrose  may  have  been 
superiors  of  Kynnaber,  &c. ,  and  not  proprietors. 

There  is  no  mansion  on  Kynnaber.  The  proprietor  resides  at  the  mansion 
of  Charlton,  an  excellent  house,  on  a  fine  situation,  commanding  an  extensive 
prospect  over  a  wide  extent  of  country.  There  is  a  pretty  garden  and  neatly 
laid  out  grounds  at  the  house,  and  thriving  plantations  around  the  mansion. 
The  house  was  built  by  Alexander  Strachan  of  Tarrie.  It  became  the  principal 
residence  of  George  Carnegie,  who  made  considerable  additions  to  it,  and  died 
in  it. 

Kinnaber  and  Charleton  are  owned  by  the  same  proprietor,  George  More 
Gordon,  W.S.,  in^right  of  his  wife,  Mrs  Janet  More  Gordon. 

The  lands  of  Kinnaber  had  been  Crown  property  in  the  time  of  Malcolm 
IV.  (1153-65).  This  Monarch,  among  his  many  gifts  to  the  Abbey  of  St  Mary 
of  Jedburgh,  included  ten  shillings  yearly  from  Kinnaber.  To  us  this  does 
not  appear  a  kingly  gift,  but  at  the  time  it  was  given  it  was  a  handsome  sum. 

The  lands  of  Newbigging,  mentioned  in  the  proprietary  account  of  Hedder- 
wick,  belonged  to  the  Erskines  in  the  16th  and  part  of  the  17th  centuries. 
On  25th  November,U636,  Elizabeth  Erskine,  spouse  of  Robert  Eamsay, 
burgess  of  Montrose,  and  Margaret  Erskine,  heirs  portioners  of  John  Erskine 
of  Newbigging,  now  called  Langley  Park,  were  retoured  (Nos.  235  and  236) 
heirs  of  the  lands>f  Newbigging— A.E.  30s,  N.E.  £6.  Newbigging  has  been 
included  in  the  Langley  Park  estate  for  many  years.    The  property  belongs  to 


438  ANGUS  OR  FORFARSHIRE.  [Part  XIV. 

Agustus  Walter  Cruicksliank  of  Langley  Park.     We  gave  an  account  of  this 
estate  in  the  chapter  on  the  parish  of  Dun  (Vol.  JIL,  pp.  184-5.) 

The  mansion  of  Newmanswalls  stands  at  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of  the 
town  of  Montrose.  The  lands  comprised  in  the  estate  were  formerly  included 
in  the  landward  part  of  the  parish,  but  for  taxation  purposes  they  are  now 
included  in  the  burgh. 

The  Panters  appear  to  have  acquired  a  Crown  charter  of  the  lands  about  the 
beginning  of  the  loth  century,  if  not  a  little  earlier.  A  member  of  the  family, 
Walter  Paniter,  was  Abbot  of  Aberbrothock  in  1409,  to  about  1450.  Another 
member  of  the  family  was  Abbot  of  Cambuskeneth  in  the  first  half  of  the  16th 
century.  The  estate  remained  in  the  Panters  until  1636,  when  it  was  acquired 
by  the  Scotts  of  Logic,  and  was  then  part  of  Logie-SIontrose.  Robert  Mill  of 
Hatton,  nephew  of  James  Scott  of  Logic,  succeeded  to  the  property  about 
1780.  Thereupon  he  assumed  the  name  of  f^'cott.  His  daughter  Margaret 
inherited  the  estate.  She  was  married  to  Brigadier- General  Sir  John  Hope, 
who  sold  the  estate  to  Alexander  Eenny  Tailyour  of  Borrowfield.  His  son, 
Colonel  Reuny  Tailyour,  succeeded  to  the  property,  and  he  is  the  present  pro- 
prietor of  Newmanswalls  and  Borrowfield.  Prior  to  the  Panters  obtaining 
Newmanswalls,  the  lands  belonged  to  and  formed  part  of  the  ancient  hospital 
grounds  of  Montrose,  The  house  is  old  but  commodious,  modern  additions 
having  been  made  to  it.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  number  of  large  old  trees  and 
shrubbery,  which  give  it  an  air  of  dignity  to  which  it  is  well  entitled. 

The  estate  ot  Sunnyside  belongs  to  John  Duncan  of  Parkhill,  Arbroath. 
The  greater  part  of  the  property  has  been  given  off  in  feus.  The  Lunatic 
Asylum,  Sunnyside,  is  on  the  estate  ;  and  Sunnyside  Bleachworks,  belonging  to 
Aberdein,  Gordon,  &  Co.,  Montrose,  is  also  a  feu  of  Sunnyside  estate. 

The  following  warrant,  which,  by  the  kindness  of  a  friend  who  has  it, 
we  copied  from  the  original  document  in  his  possession,  relates  a  state  of 
matters  but  too  common  a  century  ago.  The  Press-gang  was  then  the  terror 
of  seamen,  but,  happily,  that  cruel  method  of  manning  the  Fleet  was  abolished 
many  years  ago : — 

By  the  Commissioners  for  executing  the  Office  of  Lord  High  Admiral  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  all  His  Majesty's  Plantations,  &c. 
In  pursuance  of  His  Majesty's  Order  in  Council,  dated  the  14th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1770,  We  do  hereby  empower  and  direct  you  to  impress  as  many 


Chap.  XLVII.]       ANGUS  IN  PARISHES.- MONTROSE.  439 

seamen,  of  strong  bodies  and  in  good  Health,  as  possibly  you  can  procure, 
giving  to  each  Man  so  impressed.  One  Shilling  for  Prest  Money  ;  and  in  the 
Execution  hereof,  you  are  to  take  care  not  to  demand  or  receive  any  Money 
Gratuity,  Reward,  or  other  Consideration  whatsoever,  for  the  sparing,  exchang- 
ing, or  discharging  any  Person  or  Persons  impressed  or  to  be  impressed,  as 
you  will  answer  it  at  your  Peril.  This  Warrant  to  continue  in  force  till  the 
31st  Day  of  December,  1770. 

And  in  the  due  Execution  of  this  Warrant,  and  every  part  of  the  same,  all 
Mayors,  Sheriffs,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Bailiffs,  Constables,  Headboroughs, 
and  all  other  His  Majesty's  Officers  and  Subjects,  whom  it  may  concern,  are 
hereby  required  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  to  you,  as  they  tender  His  Majesty 
service,  and  will  answer  the  contrary  at  their  Peril.  Given  under  our  hands, 
and  the  Seal  of  the  Office  of  Admiralty,  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  October,  One 
Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Seventy. 

(Signed)  SPENCER, 

F.  HOLBUf:tNE, 
C.  J.  FOX. 
P>y  Command  of  their  Lordships. 

By  Alexander  Christie,  Esq.,  present  Provost  of  Montrose,  and  William 

Mill  of  Bonnytown,  Esq.,  two  of  the  Justices  of  Peace  within  the  Shu'e 

of  Forfar. 

These  are  in  His  Majesty's  Name  to  require  you  to  execute  this  Warrant 

according  to  the  form  and  tenor  thereof,  within  the  Shire  of  Forfar,  and 

Liberties  of  the  same.     Given  under  our  hands  at  Montrose,  this  twenty-nmth 

day  of  November,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy  years. 

(Signed)  ALEXAND^-  CHRISTIE,  J.P. 

WILL.  MILL,  J.P. 
To  the  Constables  of  the  Peace 
within  the  Shire  of  Foifar. 


INDEX. 


Abbe,  224. 

Abbey  of  Cupar,  211. 

Abbey  of  Aberbrothock,  30.  31,  34,  37,  46,  49, 
107,  300,  304,  305,  319,  320,  369,  371,  373, 
354,  .385,  435. 
Aberbothrie,  Kinloch  of,  344,  345. 
Aberbrothock,  Lord  of,  374. 
Abercairney,  32. 
Abercrombie,  James,  141, 
Aberlemno,  98. 
Abernetby,  Margaret  of,  306. 
Aboyne,  Earl  of,  25. 

Abthen  lands,  319,  320,  369,  372,  373,  374. 
Adamston,  Campbells  of,  270. 

Scrymgeours  of,  270. 
A  friend  to  statistical  inquiries,  209. 
Aq;ricola,  297. 
Ailsa,  Marquis  of,  365. 
Airlie  famiLy,  209,  221. 
...     Earl  of,  54,  94,  102,  147,  212,  293,  294, 

310. 
...     Lord,  216,  219,  307. 
Albany,  Robert  Duke  of,  211,  213,  217,  218, 

247. 
Aldbar,  Church  of,  44. 
Aldenkonkro,  87. 
Ailson  of  Easter  Braikie,  52. 

...      John,  146. 
Alpin,  King  of  Scots,  177. 
Alyth,  298. 
Ananie,  305,  307,  317. 
Anderson  of  Balgay,  191,  193. 
Patrick.  131. 

Thomas  of  Longhaugh,  289. 
Andson,  John,  80. 
Ans/ua,  Braes  of,  28,  39,  43,  16.5,  16S. 

...       Countess  of,   87,  103,    130,    306,    309, 

372,  373,  374. 
...       Earls  of,  59,  86,  87,  88,  89,  91,  97,  101, 
102,    116,    147,   211,    212,    246,    275, 
280,   284,   28S,  289,   292,    293.    313, 
369,   372,   373,    374,   384,  385,  391, 
392.  395,  419,  431. 
Annandale,  James  Earl  of,  182. 
Antiquarian  Society,  376. 


Arbuthnot  of  that  Ilk,  79. 

of  Findowrie,  361. 
Arbikie,  255. 

Lyell  of,  256. 
of  the  same,  255,  256. 
Arbroath,  Battle  of,  295. 
Archibeatoun,  Barony  of,  395. 
Ardestie,  Durhams  of,  305,  317,  420,  421,  422. 
^rskinesof,  421,  422. 
Maulesof,  422,  423. 
Old  Chapel  and  Castle  of,  422. 
Residence  of  Countess  Jane,  423. 
Sculptured  Stones  at,  423. 
Ardownie,  including  Ashludie,  390. 
Earl  of  Ormood  of,  390. 
Sir  William  Mooeypenny  of,  390. 
Bruce  of  Earlshall  of,  ;;90. 
Ramsay,  Henry,  of,  390. 
Maulesof,  390. 

Divided,  part  called  Baldovie,  411. 
Areler,  Ardler,  5,  9,  15. 
Arkley,  David,  of  Clepington,  140. 
Argyll,  Earl  of,  270,  320,  321. 
Arthurstone,  Peter  Carmichael  of,  6,  7,  8. 
Mansion  of,  7,  8. 
Murrays  of,  346. 
Ascreavie,  33,  34,  36. 

Ashludie,  House  and  Proprietor  Burned,  391. 
Murray  of,  391. 
Gordon  of,  390. 
Mansion  of,  391. 
Athole,  Earls  of,  155,  156,  170,  218,  223,  249. 

Walter  Stewart,  Earl  of,  beheaded,  435. 
Auchfersie,  171. 
Auchiuleck,  415,  420. 

Castle  of,  139,  224,  416,  418. 

Andrew  of,  298. 

Gilbert  of,  7. 

James,  Provost  of  Dundee  in  16 !  9, 

416. 
Mattliew  le  Napier  of,  415. 
l)artof,  calleil  Smitlitiold,  391. 
Reads  of,  417,  418. 
Fyffjof,  428. 
(jrahams  or,  1 18. 
Yeamans  of,  418,  428, 
Mitchells  of,  418. 


442 


INDEX. 


Auchinleck,  Baptisms  of  Aucbinlecks,  419. 

Tradition  of   twelve  Gilberts   of, 
419. 
Auchlishie,  98. 
Aucbnawys,  478. 
Auchtei'liouse,  lil3,  217. 
Auchterlony  of  Kellie,  157. 
Augustine,  son  of  Cristiaue,  305. 
Auld  Allan,  37,  212. 

B 

Barrimont's  Eoll,  67,  351. 
Bain,  Rev.  Thomas,  239. 
P.aikie,  145,  170. 
Baird,  Sir  David,  Bart.,  52. 

..      Robert,  of  Newbyth.  52. 
Balargus,  Grahams  of,  147,  284,  288,  289,  293, 
294. 

Young,  ancestor  of  Clavcrhouse,  &c., 

288. 
Teinds  of  Balargus  and  Finland,  288. 
Balheuchly,  282. 
Balhirnie  of  Invereighty,  Gl,  62. 
Balbrogie.  Lands  of,  10,  11. 
Balcarres,  Earls  of,   110. 
Balclochar,  373. 
Balconnel,  Irvines  of,  363. 

Murisons  of,  363. 

Skairs  of,  363. 

Scots  of,  363. 
Baldinny,  19. 
Baldovau,  126. 

Asylums  and  Orphanage,  279. 

Drnnimond  of,  281.     • 

Nairnsof,  281. 

Ogilvys  of,  276,  277,  278. 

Henry  Riekorton  of,  280. 

Surymireours  of,  28 1. 

Tnllidelph  of.  276,  277. 

Wedderburn  of,  2.S1, 

Mansion,  Lands,  &e.,  280.  281. 
Baldovie,    123.    12.5,    126,  132,    133,    144,    145, 
148,  149. 

Farquharsons  of,  35. 

Hays  of,  35. 

Hunters  of,  35. 

Mitchell,  Captain,  of,  36. 

Sir  Thomas  Monro,  Bart,  of,  .36. 

Ogilvys  of,  32,  3.\ 

ilansion.  &c  ,  36. 
Baldowny,  Lands  of,  18,  i9. 
BaldowriV,  Kaster  and  Wester,  10. 

Land.-*  of,  4.  5,  8,  9,  10,  11. 

Oeekies  of.  9,  10,  11,  12. 

Hal V burton  of,  9. 

Steel  of,  11. 

Ward  of,  8. 


Baldowrie,  Mansion  of,  11. 
Baldragon,  126,  281,  282,  296,  297. 
Balfour,  Castle  of,  34,  35. 

Lease  of,  granted,  33. 
Blair  of,  35. 
...       Farquharson  of,  35. 
Fothringhams  of,  35, 
Sir  Thomas  Monro  of,  36. 
...       Ogilvy  of,  32,  33,  39. 
Maister  James  of,  68. 
Balgartbno,  21. 

Druids  Circle  on,  177. 
Balgavies,  334.  420. 

Castle  of.  424. 
Wishart  of,  118. 
Balgay.  Hill  of,  191. 

...      Earl  of  Gowrie  of,  190. 

Sir  David  Murray  of,  190. 
...      Walter  Lindsay  of,  190. 
...      Hunter  of,  19  '. 

Robert  Davidson  of,  190. 
...      Walter  Tullidelph,  LL.D.,  of,  191. 
Lieut. -Gen.  Hon,  Alex.  Leslie  of,  191. 
David  Aniler^on  of,  191. 
Sir  William  Scott  of  Ancrum  of,  191. 
...      Lady  Scott  of,  191. 

Harry  Warren  Scott  of,  191. 
Balgillo,  Monifietb,  154,  392,  393. 
Blairs  of,  393. 
...       Erskineof,  3'.»3,  411. 
...       Grays  of,  392,  393. 

Hunters  of,  393,  411. 
...       Tannadice,  5,  9,  41,  335. 
Balhall,  1-rskinesof,  36t. 

GK  n  of  Inchmartine  of,  364. 
Lyells  of,  364. 
«ir  Walter  Ogilvy  of,  2 1 6. 
Balhungie,  420,  421,  4-:!4. 
Balinhard,  John  de,  332. 
baliol,  John  de.  Lord  of  Bernard  Castle,  123, 

124,  125,  129. 
Halkeillie,  318. 
Balkello,  29). 
B:dlegdgraud,  48. 

Ballindarg,  lOl,  116,   117,  US,   120. 
ilallinshoi',  41,  89,  98,  JOO,  110.  121. 
Ballintore,  llO,  111,  116,  19),  212,  213,  214. 
Ballumbie,  147,  155. 

Church  of,  122. 
Lovellsof,  147,  155,  373. 
Mauls  of,  411. 
Ballunie,  Kettens,  4,  12. 

Dundee,  123,  125,  126,  13;^,  148,  149, 
154. 
Balmak-idie,  364. 
Balmaw,  Lands  of,  l.'O,  ISO,  136. 
Balmerino,  Lird,   lands  Monitiet'i,    .382,    "83, 
384, 


INDEX. 


443 


Baltnossie,  129,  130,  369,  373,  394. 
Bilmuckety,  lOl. 
Balmydown,  281. 
Balmuir,  2u2,  284,  289. 

Inventories  of,  287. 

Farming  details,  284,  285,  286,  287. 

Fees  to  male  and   female   servants, 

285,  286,  287. 
Fothringhams  of,  284,  295. 
Grahams  of,  284,  285. 
Webstersof,  284. 
John  Sharp  of,  284. 
Balnaboth,  92,  102. 
Balnamoon,  76,  78,  305. 
Balnanon,  Tullochs  of,  307. 
Balnawis,  48,  5U,  51. 
Balshando,  Lauds  of,  270. 
Balruddery,  124,  126,  175,  188,  189,  190. 
Balthayock,  5,  9. 

Balzeordie,  Account  of  Symmers  of,  169,  360, 
361,  362. 
Arms  of  Symmers  of,  302. 
Local  proverb  of  the  lasses  of,  362. 
Robert  Symers  of,  beheaded,  362. 
Bamfif,  Lord,  111. 
Bandirran,  13. 

Miss  Drummond  of,  13. 
Livingstons  of,  13. 
Lyon  of,  13. 
Macdonalds  of,  13. 
Nairns  of,  13. 
Bannatynes  of  Meigle,  &c.,  346. 
Bannociiburn,  Battle  of,  46. 
Barbour,  Robert,  of  Craigie,  129. 
Barclay,  Sir  David,  of  Brechin,  170,  305,  435. 
Barclay  of  Ury,  a  Quaker,  430. 
Barnhiil,  373,  394. 
BarntoD,  Towers  of,  105. 
Barry  Hill,  348. 
Baxter  Brothers  &  Co.,  8,  142. 
Baxter,  Edward,  146. 

John,  of  Idvies,  67. 
...      Park,  129. 

William,  of  Balgavies,  142. 
Beaton,  Archibald,  248. 

...       David,  Cardinal,  76,  248. 
...       Elizabeth,  248. 

James,  put  to  the  horn,  381. 
...       John,  of  Balfour,  288. 
Beatons,  395. 

Beaufort,  Walter  Ogilvy  of,  282. 
Beauly  Priory,  246. 
Bede,  351. 
Bell,  Provost,  146. 
Bell  the  Cat,  88. 
Bellidutf  Cairn  or  Tumulus,  349. 
Bells,  Kettins,  3. 
...     Kingoldrum,  27. 
...     Kinnell,  45. 


Bells,  S.  Colomba's,  207. 
...     S.  Middau'.s,  208. 
...     S.  Muntjo's,  207. 
...     Maidie'.-^,  208. 
Belmont,  8,  i6,  47,  333,  336. 
Belmont  Castle,  Battle  of,  349. 
Bendochy  Church,  3. 
Ben  Lawers,  39. 
Benvie,  124,  126,  172,  173,  174. 

Large  Ash  Trees  at,  174,  187,  188. 
Ben  Voirlich,  39. 
Bethune  of  Balfour,  147- 
Betun,  395. 

...      D.ivid  of,  the  Sheriff,  353. 
Berwick,  Castle,  Hospital,  and  Town,  1. 
Birkhiil  Feus,  179. 
Bishop  Forbes,  373. 

the  Boy,  of  Brechin,  320,  321. 
Bisset,  Sir  John  of  Beaufort,  47. 
Black  Craig,  373. 
Blackness,  190,  193. 

Battle  of,  355. 
Blackscroft,  134. 
Blairs  of  Baldowrie,  &c.,  5,  9. 
...     of  Balgillo,  24,  335. 
...     of  Balthayock,  &c.,  5,  9,  62. 
Blair,  David,  146. 
...     Lt.-Ci)l.  and  Brigadier,  James,  252. 
...     Lt.-Col.  Henry  Francis,  252. 
...     David  of  Balf.iur,  35. 
Blair-Athole  Church,  25. 
Blairfeddau,  110. 
Blawart  Lap,  365. 
Bloody  Mackenzie,  16. 
Blyth,  David  of  Craigie,  133. 

James,  John,  and  Richard,  133. 
Board  of  Manufactures,  161. 
Boece,  349. 
Bolshan,  Castle  of,  49. 

Name  changed  to  Kinnell,  44,  43,  49. 
Boniface,  172. 

Bonnetmaker  Craft's  Mill  on  the  Dichty,  3S4. 
Bonnymoon,  Anecdotes  of  the  Rebel  Laird,  358. 

Mansion  of,  358. 
Bonny  ton.  Castle  of,  311. 
Den  of,  332. 

Lyells  and  Mills  of,  311,  312,  315. 
I'atrick  of  Inverpetfer  of,  306, 
Capellas  of,  306. 
Tullochs  of,  306,  307. 
Woods  of,  62,  3U5,  307,  308. 
Borrowfield,  431,  432,  433,  438. 

Alexander  (Jardyne  of,  71. 
Bowers  of  Kincaldrum,  60. 

of  Kinnettles,  64,  65. 
of  Meathie  Easter,  64. 
Boyes,  Alexander,  131. 
Boyes,  Mains  of  Dudhope,  127. 
Boyter,  Kether  Liff,  181. 


Ui 


INDEX. 


Braes  of  Angus,  28,  30,  37,  4?,  208. 

Braedaw,  Siege  of,  315, 

Braidfoot  Garden,  09. 

Braikie,  r.reky,  4o,  46,  48,  51,  52,  54. 

Castle  of,  50. 
Breadalbane,  Earl  of,  52. 

Marquis  of,  52. 
Brechin,  Archdeacon  of  Cathedral  of,  76. 
Bishops  of,  59,  301. 
...       Sir  David  de,  170,  225,  435. 
Lordship  of,  170. 
Sir  William  de,  170. 
...       Battle  of,  355,  425. 
Brentford.  Paithven,  Earl  of,  74. 
Brewlands,  58. 
Brianton,  Mudie  of,  85,  80. 
Brichty,  Lands  of,  247. 
Bricins,  89. 

Bridgeford,  Douglas  of,  48,  51,  55. 
Brigton,  57,  58,  59.  61,  63,  60,  418,  428. 
Brisbanes  of  Bullion,  203. 
Brockdearg,  30. 
Brodie  of  ISrodie,  77. 
Alexander,  77. 

James  Campbell  of  Lethen,  77. 
John  Clerk,  77. 
...      Thomas,  W.S..  77. 

Account  of  Family  of,  77,  78. 
Arms  of,  78. 
Broughty  Ferry,  154,  369.  393. 
Castle  of.  378. 
Beid  of  Knap,  of,  393. 
Brown,  Andrew,  tenant  of  Bolshan,  49. 

.Jnlm,  Jamc.'',  and  William,  Dundee,  49. 
William  of  Gladsmuirand  Renmure,  51. 
David,  Provost  of  Dundee,  371. 
Browns  of  Leckoway,  01. 
Broun,  John,  of  Glasswell,  100,  101. 
Browster  Seats,  58. 
Brous,  IsabelKde,  123,  129. 
Bruce,  Robert,  of  Annandalc.  123. 
...      Robert,  of  Carrick,  123. 
...      King  Robert.  123.  129. 
...      of  Earl's  Hall,  305. 

Sir  .Alexander,  of  Earl's  Hall,  390. 
Buchan,  Karl  of,  28,  111,  213,  220,  225. 

Countess  of,  213. 
Buckingham,  Duchess  of,  52. 
Bullion,  or  Bulzeon,  120,   175,   176,  189,  202, 

203,  270. 
Burnanburgh,  Battle  of,  86. 
Burnside,  Bel's  of,  36.3. 

Giithries  of,  303. 
Burr,  Andrew,  153. 
Bute.  Earl  of,  16,  17. 
Buyers,  James,  of  Easter  Braikie,  52. 


CairDconnon,  31. 
Caithness,  Earl  of,  304. 
Cambiston,  Mill  of,  19. 
Cambuston,  Lands  of,  423. 

Maules  of,  424. 
Cambrun,  Hugh  of.  Sheriff,  30. 
Camelyne,  Anselm  of,  240. 
Cameron,  Ewan,  of  Artliurstone,  7. 
Camno,  Smiths  of,  6,  7. 
Campbell,  Alexander,  of  Balgersho,  13,  19. 

Alexander,  Bishop  of  Brechin,  312. 
Donald,  Abbot  of  Coupar  Angus,  6, 

268. 
of  Arthurstone,  6. 
Rev.  Dr  George,  of  Cupar  Fife,  20. 
John,  Baron  Campbell,  20. 
Sir  John  of  Cawder,  110. 
of  Lundie,  268. 
of  Powrie,  396. 
of  Stracathro,  241. 
Frederick   William,    Baron  Strath- 

eden,  20. 
John,  Earl  of  A  thole,  155. 
Sir  Hu^'h,  of  Calder,  78. 
Sir  V\  illiara,  155. 
Camperdown,  Batile  of,  201. 
Earl  of,  202. 

Palace  and  Demesne  of,  179,  201, 
202. 
Cannan,  Rev.  David,  D.D.,  96. 
Capellas  of  Bonnj-ton,  306. 
Gaputh,  60. 
Carcary,  Lyells  of,  85. 

Ogilvysof,  104,  216,  281. 
Little,  305,  307. 
Cardean,  8,  346,  350. 

Legend  of  Witch  of,  350,  351. 
Garden-Barclay,  153. 
Cargiil&Co.,  290. 
Carlungie.  Lands  of,  420,  423,  424. 
Carmichael,  James,  8. 

Peter,  of  Ardler  and  Aucbterhouse, 

6,  8. 
Peter  gifted  a  Church  and  Manse 

to  Ardler,  6. 
of  Ethiebeaton,  396. 
Carmylie,  58. 
Carnegie,  Sir  David,  331. 
Sir  James,  24. 
Sir  John,  of  Kinnaird,  307. 
Sir  Robert,  of  Kinnaird,  76,  307. 
Carnegies  of  Kinnell,  55. 

Ann,  of  Kinnell,  55. 
Lady    Magdalene,   married    .James, 
Earl  of  Montrose,  24,  85,  290,  305. 
.  .         Lady  Mary,  married  Halyburtou  of 
Pitcur,  24. 


INDEX. 


445 


Carnegies  of  Pittarrow,  434. 
Carnegys  of  Balnamoon. 

James,  of  Auchfersie,  171. 

James,  the  Hebel  Laird,  227. 

Anecdotes  regarding  him,  227. 

Arms  of  Carnegys  of  Balnamoon,  358. 

of  Craigo,  85,  238,  239. 

of  Dysart,  316. 

of  Findowrie,  SGo. 

of  Boysack,  256. 

of  Fullerton,  318. 

John,  of  Seaton  and  Easter  Liflf,  204. 

Sir  John,  of  that  Ilk,  181. 

John,  of  Easter  Fithie,  73. 

of  Charleton,  434. 

Helen    and    Margaret,     of     Easter 
Fithie,  73. 

Robert,  of  Id  vies,  78. 

James,  of  Finhaven,  112. 

John,  of  Kinnell,  120. 

John,  Provost  of  Forfar,  120. 
Carnworth,  Earl  of,  213. 
Carrick  of  Carrick,  123. 

...       John,  Earl  of,  12. 
Carron.  Alexander,  Earl  de,  176. 
Carse  of  Gowrie,  179. 
Cassilles,  Ear!  of,  365. 
Castlehills,  125,  126. 
Catermille,  202,  203. 
Caterthun,  163,  366,  367,  368. 

Examination  of,  368. 
Catlaw,  29,  30,  41,  43,  92. 
Cavendish,  Sir  Henry,  41. 
Cawder,  Earls  of,  78,  110. 
Chalmers,  George,  331. 

William,  of  Glenericht,  141. 
of  Auchnawis,  47. 
Chapelton,  Lands  of,  13,  19. 
Chaplainry  of  All-Saints,  425. 
Charlton,  431,  434,  435,  437. 
Chatterton,  Sir  James,  Bart,  41. 
Chester,  John  Scott,  Earl  of,  123. 
Chirnside,  Major  Thomas,  of  Ballintore,  214. 
Cissoris,  Roger,  129. 
...       William,  61. 
Clarck,  Alexander,  83. 
Clatto  Hill,  298. 

...     Moor,  297,  298. 
Claverhouse,  136,  289. 

Grahams  of,  101,  134,  288,  290. 
Clayhills  of  Baldovie,  144,  145,  183. 
...      of  Invergowrie,  183,  184,  185. 
...      Robert,  133. 

Mansion  of  Invergowrie,  185. 
Claylake,  431,  435,  436. 

Claypotts,   123,   130,   136,   137,   138,  151,  153, 
154, 

Castle  of,  138,  139,  173. 


Claypotts,  Lands  of,  129,  134. 
Cleghorn,  William,  of  Logie,  193. 
Clement,  Niniane,  57. 
Clepington,  123,  132,  140, 
Cloisterbank,  Battle  of,  95. 
Clova,  43,  102,  104,  170. 
Cockburns  of  Langton,  52. 
Collace,  Margaret,  53. 

of  Balnamoon  at  Battle  of  Brechin,  355. 
Church  of,  3. 
Colmeallie,  stone  circle  at,  229. 
Cominche,  Hugh,  Hermit  of  Kilgary,  366. 
Comyns,  211,  226. 
Conolly,  Jean,  72,  73. 
Margaret,  "2. 
Conon,  Lands  of,  76. 

and  Tu  Hoes,  perambulation  of,  419, 
ConoDsyth,  Lands  of,  71. 
Convalescent  Home,  Barnhill,  412. 
Cookston,  Ogilvy  of,  32. 
Corston,  Over,  &c.,  13,  19. 
Cortachy,  102. 

Castle,  40. 
Coule,  105, 
Couaton,  126. 
Coupar  Angus,  26. 

Alibey  of,  6,  240,  419. 
Abbey  of,  owned  Arthurafcone,6. 
Coupar,  David,  of  Renmuir,  51. 
Crichton,  Elspeth,   10. 

Sir  Robert,  of  Cluny,  72, 
Thomas,  of  Bottomcraig,  72,  73. 
of  Ruthven,  212,  268. 
Craichie,  71. 
Crag  (Craig),  46. 
Craighill,  Lands  of,  146, 

Lord,  146, 
Craigie,  123,  125,  126,  129,  130,  135. 
...      Barbour  of,  129. 
...      Estate,  128,  129,  130,  131. 
...      Hilton  of,  130,  132,  133,  154. 
.,.      MiltoD  of,  130,  131,  132,  133,  134,  154, 

155. 
...      Muir  of,  134. 

Bniis  Lands,  394. 
Craigo,  Carnegie  of,  85. 

...     Works,  239. 
Craig,   St  Nicholas,    and    Fortalice,    Dundee, 

Lindsay  of,  425. 
Craiquhy,  71. 
Cramond  of  Aldbar,  203. 

of  Melgund  aud  Bullion,  203. 
Crawford,  Countess  of,  164. 

Earl  of,  61,   71,  120,  164,  169,  216, 
219,  221,  226,  315,  345,  355,  395. 
Master  of,  423 
Henry  of  Monorgan,  76. 
Crawmont,  James,  305,  317. 


446 


INDEX. 


CramoDt,  Robert,  305,  317. 

Crombie,  Alexaoder,  of  Pitarrow,  435. 

Crombie  Burn,  36,  215. 

Cromwell,  6,  397. 

Cronan  belonged  to  Coupar  Abbey.  6. 

Cross,  piece  of  true  Cross  found,  2. 

...     Holy,  churches  of  called  Ministerles,  2. 
Crown,   the  dispute  with   Peebles  about   the 

Patronage  of  Kettins,  2. 
Cruickshank,  431,  438. 

Pvev.  Mr,  162,  164,  165. 
of  Stracathro,  241. 
Culbin,  Kinnaird  of,  50. 

Culdees,  368,  369,  372,  373,  374,  384,  385,  403. 
Cullodeu,  112,  163. 
Gumming,  John,  of  Cowtie,  24. 
Cupermaculty,  Lands  of,  24. 


D 


Dalgleish,  William  Ogilvy,  142. 

Dalhousie,  Earl  of,  155,  170,  224. 

Dalpersie  Castle,  139. 

Darling,  James  titormonth,  of  Lednathie,  116, 

155,  157,  214,  237. 
Davidsons  of  Balgay,  190. 

Rev.  Mr,  of  Kinnell,  45. 
Davidston,  126. 

David.  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  123. 
Dawson,  Anne,  77. 

William,  of  Gairdoch,  77. 
Dempster,  George,  of  Dunnichen,  21. 
of  Careston,  84. 
of  Dysart,  316. 
Denhead,  belonging  to  Coupar  Abbey,  6. 
Dennyferne,  Castle  of,  167. 
Dentoun.  Mill  of,  72,  73,  74. 
Devorguill,  wife  of  Baliol,  123,  124,  125. 
Dicks  of  Pitkerro,  160. 

Dichty,  the,  273,  274,  275,  290,  293,  295,  298. 
Doig,  David  (a  genius),  371. 

..     David,  of  Cookston,  361. 
Donald,  Abbe,  of  Brechin,  48. 
Don,  William  and  John,  &  Co.,  63. 
Dores  Castle,  27. 
Douglas,  Duke  of,  87,  89,  136 

Marquis  of,  88,  89.  91,  136.  153,  154, 

291. 
Earl  of,  88,  105,  170,  211,  216,  217, 

263. 
Lord,  89,  305,  391. 
Sir  James,  of  Dalkeith,  15. 
of  Glenbervie,  59,  313. 
Lady  Christian,  156. 

...     Marian.  llO. 
Sir  Robert,  of  Lochleven,  15. 
of  Bridgeford,  41,  55. 


Douglas,  of  Brigton,  42,  58,  59,  66,  418,  428. 
Sir  Robert,  of  Tilliquhillie,  171. 
Hon.  Hamilton.  25. 
Archibald  Murray,  42. 
Archibald  Steward,  89. 
William,  Provost  of  Forfar,  428. 
Robert,  Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  428. 
Estate  in  Monikie,  427. 
Dr,  25. 
Lfinds  of,  .30. 
Douglas  and  Mar,  Earl  of,  12. 
Douglas  Bleachtield,  154. 
Douglas  Muir,  46,  107. 
Douglastown,  66. 
Downie,  Barony  of,  19. 

Celtic  Earls  of  Angus  of,  419. 

Aberuethy's  of,  419. 

Fothringhams  of,  421. 

Lindsays  of  Crawford  of,  419. 

in  Gleuisla,  gifted  to  Coupar  Abbey, 

419. 
Thanedom  and  Barony  of,  419,  425. 
Mill,  gifted  by  David  II.  to  John  Le 
Male,  419,  420. 
...       William.  Earl  of  Sutherland,  of,  420. 
Downycane  and  Castle,  419,  420,  421,  424. 
Downie  Hill,  Monikie,  426. 
Downy,  Bollocks  of,  421. 
...       Forfeited,  421,  422. 

Repurchased   by  Earl  William,    421, 

422. 
Sir j Alexander  Lindsay  of  Glenesk  of, 

420. 
David,  Earl  of  Crawford,  of,  420. 
Nativi  or  serfs  and  their  children,  420. 
Dress,  168. 
Dronly.  126,  270. 

Druidical  Circles,  11,  30,  165,  229. 
Drumdune,  121. 
Drumgeith,  182,  144,  145,  146. 

David  Fyffe  of,  428. 
Drumkelbo,  Tyries  of,  and  Lunan,  254. 
Drummond,  Miss,  of  Bandirran,  13. 
of  Hawthornden,  160. 
of  Megginch,  158,  269. 
Dryburgh,  201,  202. 
Drymie  or  Drum,  lands  of,  312. 

...     Wisharts  of  Pitarrow,  of,  312. 
Dubton  Station,  433. 
Dudhope  Castle,  128,  136. 

Estate  acquired   by    the   Maitlands, 
127. 
Passed  to  Earl  of  Lauderdale, 

127. 
Acquiredby  Graham  of  Claver- 

house,  127. 
Reacquired  by  Earl  of  Lauder- 
dale, 127. 


INDEX. 


447 


Dudhope  Estate  Acquired  by  Town  of  Pundee. 
127. 
Upper  and  Lower,  123,  125. 
Visoouats  of,  123,  125,  126,  133,  136, 
188. 
Dudley,  Sir  John,  Captain  of  Broughty  Castle, 

381 
Dun,  Erskines'of,  24,  135,  157,  237,  288,  365, 
393,  435. 
...     Sir  John  Erskine  of,  68,  112. 
...     The  Laird  of,  to  act  as  Sheriff,  309. 
Dunbars,  Earls  of  Moray,  47. 
Dunblane,  Bishop  of,  59. 
Dumbarton,  305. 

Duncan,  Alexander,  Provost  of  Dundee,  269. 
of  Lundie,  268,  269,  298. 
Admiral  Lord,  201,  263. 
of  Lintrathen,  211. 
Judex  or  Deemster,  31. 
David,  of  lienmuir,  51. 
Duncrub,  72. 
Dundee,  Appearance  of  changed,  128. 

...       Barony  of,    123,    125,    131,   133,   143, 

154. 
...       Castle  of,  124. 

Acquired  the  Law,  127. 
...       Bleachtield,  290. 

Dean  of  Guild  of,  161, 
Assessors  of  the  Guildry,  417. 
...       Earl  of,  123,  138,  140,  153,   174,   189, 

281. 
...       Parish,  122. 
...       Church  of,  122. 

Gifted  by  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  122, 
Cristison,  William,  Minister,  122, 
Royal  Meadow  of,  124. 
...       Howffof,  11, 

Trinity  Friars  of,  1, 
Provost  Auchinleck,  416. 
Viscount,  Constable  of,  151. 
„.       Viscount  of,  25,  150,  154,  290,  291, 

Rental  of  his  Estate,  151, 
Arms  of,  291,  293, 
Dunfynd  (Dentiend),  419,  420,  424, 
Dnnfoeder,  86, 
Dunkeld,  Bishop  of,  60,  333,  335. 

Diocese  of,  335. 
Dunolm,  William  Auld,  397, 
Dunloppie,  101,  169,  241. 
Dunnichen,  29,  68,  71. 
Duoninald,  140. 

Duntrune,  125,   132,  133,  146,  147,  148,   150, 
220. 
Ogilvy  of,  220. 
Durham,  David,  of  Laws,  7. 

Account  of,  398,  399,  400. 
Durhams  of  Ardestie  and  Denfind,  305,  307, 
317,  318,  420. 


Durhams  of  Ethiebeaton,  396. 

of  Grange,  160,  398,  400,  420, 
Sir  James  Knit^ht,  158, 
of  Omacliie,  160. 
of  Pitkerro,  156,  157,  397,  398. 
Simeon  of,  86. 
Dyserth,  Caruegys  of,  316. 
Dysart,  Melvilles  of,  312,  313. 
...      Milnes  of,  316. 
...      T.  Macpherson  Grant  of,  316. 
John  Stewart  of,  316. 
Ramsaj',  Hon.  John  of,  316,  317. 
„,      304,  315,  316. 
...      Over  and  Nether,  300,  301,  303,  315, 


E 


Eagles'  Loup,  227, 

Earl  of  Huntingdon,  123,  125, 

Earl's  Lodgings  and  Chaplainry,  Dundee,  425, 

Eassie,  Keilor,  and  Fingask,  grant  by  Walter 

Ogilvy  of  Carcary  from,  15, 
Easter  Fithie.  73, 
Eastertown,  73. 
Easton,  Rev.  Thomas,  90,  96. 
Ecclesmonichty,  373,  394. 
Echo,  272. 

Edsvard  of  Kinclune,  38. 
Edwards  and  Robertson,  190. 
Edzell,  161,  169. 

Edzell  Castle,  a  historic  ruin,  232. 
...      the  Laird  of,  24,  224. 

Sir  David  Lindsay  of,  110. 
Elibank,  Lord,  8,  346. 
Eme,  James,  of  Lathume,  53. 
Enimock,  Lands  of,  289, 
Ergadie,  188. 

Errol,  Earl  of,  15,  16,  268,  293. 
Ethie,  Earl  of,  241. 

Church  of,  44. 
Ethiebeaton,  140,  395,  396,  397,  420. 

Anderson  of,  396. 

Arklays  of,  396, 

Carn.ichaels  of,  396, 

and  Hillock,  Dempsters  of,  396. 

Durhams  of,  396. 

Fofhringhams  of,  395,  396. 

Millar  of,  396. 

Ramsays  of,  396. 

New  Mansion  of.  396. 

divided  and  reunited,  411, 
Erskine,  John,  of  Carnoch,  209, 
Erskines  of  Balsillo,  393. 

Mrs  Elmma,  of  Balhall,  365. 
Mrs  Mary,  of  Balhall,  365. 
of   Duu.  GS,   109,  112,  157,  216,  237, 
288,  365,  398. 


448 


INDEX. 


Erskine,  Lord  John  Kennedy, '25,  26. 

Lord  Robert,  155. 

Sir  Robert,  155. 

of  Linlathen,  8,   290,  293,  294,   376, 
377. 

of  Linlathen's  Fountain,  377 

Thomas,  of  Haltown,  108. 

of  Kirkbuddo,  435. 
Erskine,  Secretary, 
Eure,  John  of,  18. 
Evelick,  20,  63. 


Faith,  Confession  of,  83,  109. 
Falconer,  Lord  David,  P.C.S.,241,  242. 
Falconers,  241. 
Fallaws,  Mill  of,  297,  298. 
Farnell,  Muir  of,  76. 
Farnel,  Thomas  .John,  77. 
Farquharsons,  Account  of,  36. 
of  Pjalilovie,  35. 
of  Balfour,  35,  36. 
Clan,  110. 

Donald,  of  Finzean,  110. 
Fassington,  Margaret,  306. 
Fast,  a  Public,  ordered,  93. 
Fenton  of  Baikie  and  Kinclune,  37. 
James  of  Ogil,  108. 
of  Pitcur,  23. 
Walter,  of  Beaufort,  208. 
Fernhall,  John  Sharp  of,  285. 
Ferrydoors,  155. 
Ferry,  East,  133. 
...      North,  l.-)4. 
...      toun,  130,  136. 
...      West,  134,  155. 
Fiends'  Den,  424,  425. 
Fife,  Robert,  Earl  of,  12. 

...    Major,  of  SmithHeld,  173,  193. 
Findla  More  or  Mohr,  36,  1 10. 
Findlater,  Earls  of,  219,  220,  221. 
Findowrie,  Carnegies  of,  SC'i. 
Fiodlayson  of  Gagie,  Provo.^t  of  Dundee.  74, 

315. 
Finnygand,  36. 
Fintry,  289,  292.  293. 
Fithie,  Henry,  139,  173,  305. 
Fithie,  the,  146. 
Fithie,  Easter,  73. 
Fitzclarence,  Lady  Augusta,  25. 
Flax  Spinning  Mill,  Friockheim,  80. 
Fleming  of  Hii,'gar,  154,  435. 

of  Brigton,  47. 
Fletchers  of  Balinsho,  41,  l':i,  193. 
Burying  Ground  of,  100, 
of  Inverpeffer,  of  Monikie,  414. 


Flodden,  Battle  of,  109. 
Fodderanee,  Halyburton  of,  5,  19,  20. 
Fodringhay,  Thomas  de,  12,  152. 
Fofarty,  60. 
Forfar,  David  of,  18. 
Church,  57. 
...      Brogues,  231. 
Forket  Aker  le,  in  Brechin,  48. 
Formal,  Knock  and  Lands  of,  212,  215. 
Fornichty,  73,  212. 
Forth,  Ruthven,  Earl  of,  74. 
...     now  Forthil',  411. 
and  Cunningair,  411. 
Forthill,  Hunters,  Kerrs,  and  Raitts  of,  397. 
Fothringharas  of  Balfour,  35, 

of  Balhungie,  420. 
of  Balunie,  152. 
of  EthiebeatoD,  396. 
of  Powrie,  57,  94,  9.5,  109,   111, 
147. 152,  218, 294,  295, 395, 396. 
Marion,  290. 

Castellated  Mansion  of,  57. 
Foxes  in  Locblee.  231. 
Fowlis,  Church  of,  261,  262,  264. 
...      Castle  of,  265,  266. 
...      Den  of,  261,  265. 

Rood,    Screen,    &c.,    in   Church,   262, 

263,  264. 
Marriage  Feast  at  Castle,  265. 
Grays  of,  265. 
Mortimers  of,  265. 
Murrays  of  Ochtertyre  of,  265. 
Friockheim,  44,  69,  72,  73,  74,  79,  80. 
Fyflf,  David,  44. 

Eraser,  Alexander,  and  Spouse,  54. 
Account  of,  47. 
of  Braikie.  .50,  51. 
...       Hugh  of  Kinnell,  47.  53. 
Lord,  of  Lovat,  48,  51. 
Simon,  of  Kinnell,  46,  53, 
married    Lady   Matilda,    daughter   of 
Earl  of  Ross,  47. 
...       Hugh,  of  Garlake,  53. 

Rev.  VV.  R.,  of  Mary  ton,  306. 
Catherine,  20. 

Sir  Alexander,  of  Philorth,  247. 
Fruill,  Richard  of,  18. 

Fullertons  of  Eoysack  and  Inverkeillor,  318. 
their  descent,  318. 
liad  grant  of  Kilgarie,  338. 
acquired  Abthen  Lands,  320. 
Sir  AVilliam  of  that  Ilk,  Kt.,  338. 
Lands  he  possessed,  33"^. 
details  of  the  family,  338,  339. 
of  Maryton,  338. 
George  Carnegie,  434. 
of  Kmnaber,  a  quaker,  436. 
of  that  Ilk,  G4,  180,  236,  237,  256. 


INDEX. 


449 


FuUerton,  Galfride  of,  305. 
Geoffrey  of,  317, 
of  that  ]lb,  316. 
Lands  of,  305,  307,  317,  332. 
Den  of,  305. 
of  Meigle,  338. 
Carnegies  of,  318,  319. 
John  Coutts  of,  318,  319. 
Mills  of,  319. 
Bishop  of  Brechin  of,  320. 
Woods  of  Bonnyton  of,  318. 


G 


Gagie,  Finlayson  of,  Provost  of  Dundee,  74, 

315. 
Gairie,  The,  92,  il5. 
...      Den,  92,  97. 
Gallery,  Lord  Halkerston  of,  242. 
...      House  of,  243. 
Lands  of,  156. 
...      David  Lyall  of,  241,  242. 
Gallows  Hill,  Kinnell,  46. 

Monikie,  426. 
Galraw,  Oliphants  of,  242. 
Garden,  69,  72. 

Alexander  of  same,  70,  71,  432. 
David,  of  Cononsyth,  71. 
of  Leys,  71. 

80. 

of  Lawton,  83. 
James,  of  Dumbarrow,  71. 

of  Milton  of  TuUoes,  71. 

...      John,  of  that  Ilk,  69,  70. 
Patrick,  of  Garden,  71. 
Patrick,  Lord  of  same,  70. 
Chief  of,  fell  at  Battle  of  Arbroath, 

432. 
A  Councillor  of  Earl  Crawford,  432. 
Gardyne,  Alexander,  of  same,  70,  71. 
Alexander  Lyell  of,  68, 
David  of  Cononsyth,  307,  308. 

...     of  Lawton,  147. 
John,  83. 
Robert,  147. 
Thomas,  of  same,  70,  81. 

...       of  Middleton,  67,  79,  80. 
Macpherson  Bruce,   67,  69, 
79,  80. 
William  Bruce,  of  Middleton,  79. 
Anns  of,  80, 
of  Gardyne,  106. 
Barony  of,  70,  71,  73. 
Castle  of,  74,  75, 
Account  of  Family,  79. 
Garlate,  Carnegies  of,  53. 
Ogilvies  of,  53. 

3l 


Garlet,  Frasers  of,  53. 
Garlowbank,  Lands  of,  100,  101. 
Garthea,  Joannes  de,  69. 
Gask,  Lands  of,  23,  24. 
Gavin,  Alexandei-,  45,  51. 

David,  of  Easter  Braikie  and  Langton, 

51,  52. 

Catherine,  51, 

Geekies  acquired  Baldourie,  9. 

...      Alexander,  of  Baldourie,  9,  10,  11,  12. 
Mrs  Alexander,  22. 
Alexander,  Surgeon.  10,  11. 
...      Dr,  86. 
...      Robert,  10,  11. 

William,  of  London,  10,  11. 
Bequest,  10. 
...      William,  9,  10,  11, 
Gellyburn,  292. 
Gibb,  James,  Arbroath,  74. 

...     Elizabeth,  74. 

Gilchorn,  Mudie  of,  85. 

Glaister,  John  of,  202. 

Glamis,  60,  101. 

...      Castle,  120. 

...      Lord,  58,  109,  145,  203,  217. 
of  Balnawis,  48,  53, 
Glasswells,  Smiths  of,  6,  7. 

Lands  of,  100,  101. 
Glebes,  remarks  on,  67. 
Glen,  Sir  John,  149,  220. 
...    Margaret  de,  of  Inchmartine,  216. 
...    Marjory,  Isobel,  and  Chi'istian,  of  luch- 
martine,  220, 
Glenesk,  169, 

Church  in,  221. 
Easter,  219. 

Earl  of  Dalhousie,  proprietor,  229. 
Glen  of  Ogilvy,  136,  153,  154, 
Glen  Prosen,  92,  93,  102,  116. 
Gleuquharity,  105,  110,  HI,  211,  212, 
Glentullocb,  211. 
Glenylefe  (Glenisla),  46. 
Gordon,  Alexandei-,  of  Ashludie,  391, 
,..      Duke  of,  25, 

Hon.  Douglas,  25. 

Hon.  Lieut. -General  Alexander,  Com- 
mander of  the  Clans,  8. 
Gotterston,  123,  132,  134,  136,  145,  151. 
Gourdie,  201,  202,  205,  392. 
Gourlays  of  Kirk  ton,  294. 
William,  305. 

of  Balgillo,  392. 
Cowrie,  Earl  of,  181,  193,  202. 

Burn,  172. 
Grahams  of  Balmuir,  132,  202,  291. 
,..         of  Balunie,  152,  153. 

Miss  Clementina  Stirling,  148. 
William  Stirling,  118, 


450 


INDEX. 


Grahams  of  Claverhouse,  101,  134,  138,441, 
147,  153,  154,  270,  273,  289,  290, 
292. 
of  Duntrune,  147,  149. 
of  Fintry,  79,  146,  149,  152,  153,  248, 

288. 
of  Meathie,  42, 
Sir  David,  of  Borrowfield,  &c.,  given 

by  Robert  Bruce,  431,  434. 
Sir  William  of  Old  Montrose,    134, 

154,  305,  3G1. 
of  Pearsie,  42. 
of  Strathcarron,  287. 
Miss  A.,  146. 

Arms  of  Grahams  of  Duntrune,  148. 
Sir  David,  and  Sir  David  of  Ldndsay, 

322. 
Sir  David,   gave    Cardrosa  for    Old 

Montrose,  321. 
of  Hedderwick  and  Claylick,  435. 
Grampians,  11,  12,  26,  39,  102,  208,  209,  231. 
Grant,  Thomas  Macpherson,  of  Craigo,  239. 

Sir  Georj^e    Macpherson  of   Ballindal- 
loch,  239. 
...      T.  Macpherson,  of  Dysart,  316,  332. 
John,  of  Oraigmill,  296. 
Grange  of  Monitieth,  Durhams  of,  397,   398, 
399,  400. 
...      Martins  of,  399,  401, 

Hunters  of,  401. 
...      Kerrsof,  401. 
...      North,  Arklay  of,  401. 
...      Thow  of,  401. 

North  and  South,    Alex.  Anderson  of 
401,  402, 
„.       Castle  of,  402. 
Mansion  of,  402. 

Mortification     by    Laird     and    Lady 
Grange,  and  Trustees  of  same,  402, 
403. 
...       Divided,  411. 

Font  Stone  on  the  estate  of  Grange,  403. 
Gray,  of  Baledgarno,  21. 
...     Andrew 'of  Fowlis,  23,  265. 
...     of  Longforgan,  Craigie,  &c.,  129. 
...     Edmund  Archibald  Stuart,  of  Gray,  204. 
...     Lord,  7G,  125,    131,   154,  181,  189,  204, 

262,  204,  268,  392,  393. 
...     Lord,  his  lands  in  Meigle,  344. 
...     Andrew,  155,  203,  204,  261,  262,  268. 
...     Gilbert,  181. 
...     Sir  Patrick,  181. 
...     John,  of  Lower,  71. 
...     of  Lauriston,  203. 
...     William,  of  Balunie,  154. 

of  Invereighty,  310. 
...     Den  of,  175,  176,  205. 
...     House  of,  175,  179,  204. 


Gray  House,  Cedars  of  Lebanon  at,  204. 

Grays  of  Braikie,  &c.,  51,  55. 

Greig,  Alexander,  85. 

Gryp's  Chamber,  Craig  Maskeldie,  228 

Guelders,  Mary  of,  273. 

Guildy,  Lands  of,  425. 

Guppyld,  William,  130. 

Gustavus  Adolphus,  158. 

Guthrie,  Church  of,  68. 

Sir  Alexander,  of  Kincaldrum,  109. 

of  Clepington,  140. 

David,  68. 

David  Charles,  135. 

of  Craigie,  134,  135. 

of  the  same,  59,  70. 

Harrie,  83. 

Margaret,  76. 

of  Dysart,  314,  315, 

of  Innerlunan,  246,  314. 

James  and  Alexander,  Dundee,  363, 

Piev.  Thomas,  D.D.,  at   Lochlee  and 
Inchgrundle,  231. 

Patrick,  83. 

Wilham,  of  Glenqiihardy,  213. 

William  acquired  Lilnan,  247, 

Tradition  of  the  name,  363. 
Guynd,  marches  perambulated,  29. 


Haercairns,  42G. 

Haldanes  of  Wester  Keilor,  12,  15. 
Rev.  Mr,  27. 
of  Gleneagles,  269. 
Robert,  Trustees  of,  294. 
Haliburton,  George,  of  the  Gask,  2. 
Ualidon  Hill,  Battle  of,  246. 
Halyburton,  Lord,  his  gift  to  Kettins,  3. 
Agnes,  10. 
Alexander,  of  Ardler,  5. 

of  Foderance,Lintrose, 
15,  19. 
Agatha,  Countess  of  Morton,  25, 
David,  12, 
Sir  James,  Kt.,  12. 
Lord  D.  G.,  25. 
Admiral    Lord    John    Frederick 

Gordon,  25. 
of  Baldowrie,  9. 
of  Eglismonichto,  394. 
of  Keilor,  16. 
of  Pitcur,  12,  23,  24,  25,  288,  293, 

394. 
of  Pitcur,  Provost  of  Dundee,  23. 
House  of,  13,  14. 
Halkerton,  241,  242. 
Lord,  242. 


INDEX. 


451 


Hamiltons,  89. 

Marquis  of,  and  Commendator  of 

Arbroath,  33,  34,  38,  39,  54. 
Marquis  of,  254,  280,  435. 
Markers,  Robert,  of  Keilor,  15. 
Heddriek,  Rev.  Mr,  96,  135. 
Harveys  of  Kinnettles,  64,  65. 

Account  of  Family,  64,  65. 
Harestane,  298. 
Hawkins,  George,  42. 

Sir  John,  of  Kelston,  Bart.,  42. 
Hastings,  Earl  of,  123. 

Edmund,  129. 
Harlaw,  battle  of,  Sir  A.  Melville  fell  there, 

312. 
Hay,  Sir  George,  of  Keiler,  15,  178. 
...     of  Baldovie,  35. 
...     of  Cocklaw,  85. 
...     James,  "W.S.,  suspended,  64. 
...     of  Seggieden,  158. 
...     Lord  Newton,  85. 
...     William,  146. 
...     of  Tweedale,  47. 
Heiton,  Andrew,  13. 
Hedderwick,  431,  435,  436. 
Heem,  Hugo,  of  Letham,  32. 
Henderson,  David  Clayhills,  185. 

George  David  Clayhills,  185. 
Thomas,  Grange  of  Barry,  141, 
Highlanders,  169. 
Highlands,  the,  43. 
Highland  garb  prohibited,  227. 
Hillbank,  Dundee,  142. 
Hill  Forts,  91 . 
Hogsfauld,  140. 

Hogg,  George,  of  Glass  well,  101. 
Holden,  Richard,  144,  161. 
Home,  Earl  of,  88,  89,  136,  138,  153,  291. 
Hunters  of  Balgay,  190. 
of  Baldovie,  35. 
...       of  Balgillo,  393. 

of  Broughty  Ferry,  379. 
improvement  on  land,  380. 
...       of  Forthill,  397. 
...       of  Burnside,  428. 
Hurley  Hawkins,  172,  176. 
Huntingdon,  Earl  of,  123,  125,  129,  170,  435. 
Hunljly,  Earl  of,  293. 

Marquis  of,  25,  26. 
Horner,  Leonard,  114. 

Hungus  and  Finchen,  King  and  Queen  of  the 
Picts,  373, 


Idvies,  Church  of,  67,  68. 
...      Baxters  of,  77,  78. 
Bishop's  Lands  of,  76, 


Idvies,  Brodie,  John  Clerk  of,  77. 
Carnegiesof,  76, 
David  of,  76. 
Gylea  of,  75. 
Malcolmus  of,  75. 
...      Malysde,  76. 

Rector  of  the  Church  of,  76. 
...      Woods  of,  7G. 
...      Lands  of  76,  77. 
Mansion  of,  78. 
Thanedom  of,  75. 
Imrie,   Alexander  Taylor  of  Lunan,  25L 
William  Blair  of  Lunan,  252. 
William  of  Lunan,  250,  251. 
William  Taylor  of  Lunan,  251. 
Inchgi'undle,  Lochlee,  231. 
Inchmahone,  Priory  of,  207,  209. 
Inchmartine,  216,  220. 
Lichtur  (Inchture),  the  Law  of,  12. 

Raigenaldus  de  Kynnard,  Lord  of,  12. 
Industrial  Schools,  298,  299. 
Ingliston,  57,  58,  61,  63,  118,  253,  254. 
Innerlunan,  257. 

Sir  David  of,  246. 
Guthriesof,  247. 
Montealtsof,  247. 
Ogilvys  of,  249. 
Ross,  Earl  of,  of,  247. 
lunermeathys  of  Lundie,  218. 
Innerweath,  Lords,  248,  249,  307. 
Innerpeffer,  John  of  Gotterston  of,  153,  164. 

Patrick  de,  130,  131,  300,  394. 
Inshewan,  121, 
Inverarity,  57,  373, 
Invercauld,  Farquharson  of,  36. 
Invereighty,  269. 

Mansion,  57,  61. 
Invereighty,  Earls  of  Angus  of,  61. 
Balbirnies  of,  61,  62. 
Baxters  of,  63. 
Bowers  of,  62. 
Cissori,  William  of,  61. 
Glamis  Trustees  of,  63. 
Grays  of,  62. 
Laurensons  of,  62,  63. 
Lindsays  of,  61. 
Paterson  of,  63. 
Simpson  of,  02. 
Yeamans  of,  62. 
Invergowrie,  176,  181,  182. 
Church,  172, 
Castle  of,  176. 
Mansion  of,  186,  187. 
G.  D.  C.  Henderson  of,  185. 
Charters  of,  185,  186. 
Family  of,  183,  184,  185. 
Inverkeillor,  257. 
Invermark  Lodge  and  Castle,  224,  225,  226. 


452 


INDEX. 


lovermark  Ledge,  Iron  gate  or  yett  at,  417. 
Inverquharity,  Lindsaj's  of,  103. 

Ogilvys  of,  Bailie  of  Arbroatli 
Abbey,  48. 

Ogilvys  of,  104. 

Castle,  105,  108,  113,  225. 

Iron  gate  or  yett  at,  106,  417. 
Irvines  of  Balconiiel  of  Bruckton,  363. 
Irvines  of  Drum,  59,  111,  313. 
Irvine,  Earl  of,  289. 

Isabella,  of  Dundee,  wife  of  Ralph,  124. 
Ivory,  James,  &  Co.,  6G. 
Inyaney,  Lands  of,  304,  305. 

Dispute  regarding  same,  314. 
Barons  who  decided  same,  304,  305. 


Jacobites  in  Glenesk,  228. 
Jamieson,  George  A.,  101. 

Rev.  Dr  John,  120. 
Jak,  Shir  David,  2. 
Japp,  William,  of  Broomhall,  212. 
Jobson,  Isobel,  9. 

Johnny  Kidd's  Hole,  Glenmark,  228. 
Johnston,  Alexander,  of  Baldovie,  144. 
Judge  and  Jury  Tavern.  Loudon,  250. 
Justingleyis,  lands  of,  373. 


K 

Kettins  Paeish,  1,  0,  11,  13,  19,  21. 
Abthenage  of,  4,  13,  19. 
Anderson,  James,  Minister  of,  3. 
Auchinlcck,    James,    gifted    church 

plate,  3. 
Chapels  of,  six  in  all,  3. 
Do.    of,  13.  19. 
Do.    of  Keilor,  17. 
...       Church  of,  1,  14,  19,  24,  50. 
Do.     and  bell  of,  3. 
Celtic  monastery  at,  4. 
Fermorarers  of  ye  Kirk  of,  2. 
Haly  burton,    Lord,     gifted     church 
windows  of,  3. 
Do.,     House  of,  13,  14. 
Do.     of  Pitcur,  Provost  of  Dun- 
dee, 23. 
Hugh,  of  Over,  Lord  of  Ketenes,  4, 
Jameson  .James,  Reader  at,  3. 
Keilor,  John,  5. 

Easter,  10,  14,  15. 

Wester,  14,  15. 
Halyburtons  of,  16. 
Hays  of,  15. 
Hill  of,  17. 


Kettins,  Keilor,  Mill  of,  1 3. 

Easter  and  Wester,  15,  J  6. 
...     John  Barclay  of  Kepps 
of,  15. 
Randolph  de,  14. 
Robert  Harkins  of,  15. 
Sir  James  Douglas  of,  15. 
Sir  Robert    Do.     of,  15. 
Lands  and  barony  of,  held  off  Res- 

teneth,  4. 
Malcolm  of  Caithness  of,  18. 
Market  Cross  of,  4. 
Keilor,  Haldanes  of,  15. 

Mackenzie,  Sir  George  of,  16. 
Morton,  Earl  of,  of,  15. 
Ogilvy,  Sir  James,  of,  15. 
Strathmore,  Countess  of,  15. 
Stuart    Wortley,   James  A., 
of,  16. 
Lamberton,  Bishop,  had  a  residence 

at,  4,  57. 
Sculptured  Stones  at,  4,  17. 

KiNOOLDRtTM  PARISH  or  Shire,  27,  28,  29. 

An  early  Christian  Church  and 

Settlement,  27. 
Gifted  to  Arbroath  Abbey   by 

William  the  Lion,  27. 
Gift  confirmed  by  Alexander  III,, 

27. 
Gift  confirmed  by  Robet  III. ,  27. 
Ancient  sculptured  stones  found 

at  Church,  27. 
Bronze  scellach  or  bell,  and  cross, 

&c.,  also  found  there,  27. 
Articles  found  presented  to  the 

Society  of  Antiquaries,  Edin- 
burgh, 27. 
Date  of  dedication   and   patron 

saint  unknown,  27,  32. 
Church  erected  in  1840,  28. 
Den  of,  adjoins  the  church,  28. 
Stone    coffin    found    at    Meikle 

Kenny,  28. 
Forest  strictly  guarded,  29,  30, 

39. 
Ma  rches  perambulated,  and  stone 

cross  set  up,  28. 
Marches  again  perambulated,  29, 

30,  32. 
Lands  and  tythes  of,  gifted  to 

Arbroath  by  Sir  John  Moray, 

28. 
Alexander  III.  knighted  Thomas 

Rettre,  28. 
Loups  of  Kenny,  29. 
Kenny,  Turpin  of,  30,  31. 

Ochterlony  of,  30,  31. 


INDEX. 


453 


KiNOOLDRUM,  Ogilvys  of,  31,  32. 

Kenny  Neil,  Wisharfc  of,  31. 

Little,  Ogilvy,  Lord  of,  31. 
Duncan,  Judex  or  deem- 
ster of  the  King  of,  31. 
Lands    of,    gifted    by    Cardinal 
Beaton  to  James  Ogilvy  and 
Marjory  Durie,  his  spouse,  32, 
33,  34,  35. 
...  Fothringham  of  Powrie  of,  35. 

Earl    of     Dalhousie    now     the 
Superior,  34. 
...  Lands  owned  by  David  Blair. 

Lands  owned  by  Farquharson  of 

Baldovie,  36. 
Lands  owned    by   Sir    Thomas 

Monro,  Bart.,  36. 
Lands  of  Ascreavie,  36. 
Aucharroch,  37. 
Baldovie,  35,  36. 
Kinclune,  Lands  of,  38. 
Edward  of,  38. 
Eentonof  Baikieof,  37, 
Nicoll  of,  38. 
...      ■    Ogilvys  of,  32,  38. 
Peddie  of,  38. 
Smiths  of,  38. 
Stormonth  of,  38. 
Lands  of  Pearsie,  39, 40, 41, 42, 43. 

KiNNELL  PAMSH,  p.  44. 

Kinnell,  44,  45,  54,  107. 

Barony  of,  45,  46,  53,  158. 
Church  of,  44,  45,  46.  55. 

.  .  Spurs  in,  46. 

Castle  of,  353. 
Braikie  Castle,  50. 
Hatton  of,  54. 

Lands  of,  53.  » 

Mill  of,  45,  53. 
Moor,  53. 

Silver  Pennies  found  at,  46. 
Carnegies  of,  55,  120. 
Durhams  of,  54,  55. 
Grays  of,  55. 
Mauls  of,  55. 

KiNNETTLES  PARISH,  p.  56. 

Kinnettles,  56,  63,  64. 

Church  of,  56,  57. 

Free  at,  57. 
Douglastown,  66. 
Brigton,  57,  58,  59,  61,  63,  66,  418, 

428. 
Brigton,  Douglas  of,  28,  42,  58,  59, 

66,  418. 
Invereighty,  61,  62,  63. 
Fofarty,  60. 


Kinnettles,  Kincaldrum,  60,  64. 

Kerbet.  the,  56,  57,  59,  63,  66. 

Kirkhill,  56. 

Bridge  over  the  Kerbet  at  Douglas- 
town,  66. 

Flax  Spinning  Mill  at  Douglas- 
town,  66. 

Hill  of,  65. 

Kirkton  of,  65. 

Mansions  of,  64. 

Bowers  of,  64. 

Harveys  of,  64,  65. 

Lindsays  of,  63. 

Moodie,  Sir  Thomas,  Provost  of 
Dundee,  of,  64. 

Paterson  of,  65. 

Strachans  of,  G3. 

Grimond,  Joseph,  of. 

Personal  services,  65. 

Bain  and  hoar  frost  destroyed  the 
crops  in  1782,  66. 

Sad  effects  of  the  calamity,  66. 

KiBKDEN  Parish,  p.  67. 

Ancient  remains  found  in  parish,  68. 
Kirkden  Church,  called  Edevyn  or  Idvies,  67. 
Bishop's  dedication  to  S.  Pvufus,  67. 
Visitation  to  church  in  1388, 

67. 
Changed  site  of  manse,  67. 
Description  of  new  ground,  67. 
Kirk  stood  in  field  called  Kirkshed,  67. 
New  church  erected  in  Vinny  Den,  67. 
Heritors  who  erected  it,  67,  68. 
Spring  near  church  called  Slnruie,  68. 
Laws  or  mounds  in  parish,  68. 
Parsonage  of  Idvies,  68. 
The  Minister's  account  of  the  climate, 

68,  69. 
Farm  servants  afflicted  with  ague,  69. 
Gardynes  of  that  ilk,  69. 
Account  of  the  Gardens,  69,  70,  71,  72. 
Family  six  centuries  in  Gardyne,  70. 
Gardyne  and  Guthrie  feuds,  70. 
Do.       a   Councillor  to  the  Earl  of 
Crawford,  71. 
Gardens  acquired  Dumbarrow,  71. 
Borrowfield,  7t. 
RoUos  and  Ruthvens  of  Gardyne,  72, 

73. 
Ogilvys,  Pantons,  and  Younga  of  Gar- 
dyne, 73. 
...       Ly ells  of,  74,  75. 
Castle  of,  75. 
Idvies,  a  Thanedom,  75. 
Malys  de  Edivyn,  76. 
Idvies  belonged  to  the  Bishop  of  St 
Andrews,  76. 


454 


INDEX. 


Kirkden,  Patrick,  Lord  Gray,  of,  76. 
Carnegie  of  Kinnaird  of,  76. 
Woods  of,  76,  77. 
Wedderburns  of,  77. 
Lord  Kinnaird  of,  77. 
Baxters  of,  77. 

James  Clerk  Brodie  of,  77,  78. 
Arms  of  Brodie,  78. 
Gardyne  of  Lawton,  78,  79. 
Thomas  Macpherson  Bruce  'Gardyne 

of  MiddletOD,  79,  80. 
Arms  of    do.,        80. 

Kirriemuir  Parish,  p.  86. 
Kirriemuir,  86,  87,  88,  89,  90,  121. 

Church  of,  95,  97,  3G9,  373. 

Churches  at,  95,  96. 

Account  of,  by  David  Allan,  94,  95. 
subsequently,  97,  98. 
by  an  Englishman,  96. 

Battle  of  Cloisterbank,  95. 

Conflict  at,  95. 

Extracts  from  kirk-session  records, 
93,  94. 

Families  in  the  parish,  94,  97. 

Kyninmonth,  Alexander,  90,  96. 

Power  loom  Works  in,  97,  98. 

Regality  of,  373, 

Rockingstones  at,  90. 

Sculptured  Stones  at,  90,  91. 

KINGS  OF  SCOTLAND. 
Alexander  L,  176,  181. 

II.,  39,  129,  136,  246,  266,  300. 
III.,  18,  27,  28,  30,  215,  353. 
Athelstan,  86,  87. 
Arthur,  8,  348,  349. 
Charles  I.,  6,  19,  74,  310,  323. 

...      IL,  16,  158,  192,  269,  310,  329. 
Constantin,  86. 
David  L,  365. 

...     IL,  5,  8,  48, 103,  129, 130, 153, 155,  223, 
255,  267,  306,  322,  353,  392,  395,  398, 
407,  419,  420. 
Edward  I.,  14,  18,  30,  47,  57,  67,  69,  124,  164, 

263,  345,  392,  395,  407. 
Henry  VII.,  88. 

James  I.,  23,  158,  217,  218,  247,  265,  398. 
...     II.,  53,  106,  157,  273,  360,  398. 
...     IIL,  108,  164,  355,  360,  398. 
...     IV.,  185,  265,  322,  398. 
...    v.,  6,  132,  157,  170,  268,  307,  365,  366, 

397. 
...     VL,  2,  6,  56,  61,  68,  125,  130,  178,  181, 
192,  201,  316,  323,  334,  375,  399,  400. 
...     VII.,  16,  24,  127, 138,  151,  153,  154,  290. 
...     VIIL,  81. 
John,  King  of  Scots  (John  Baliol),  125. 


Kenneth  III.,  son  of  Malcolm  I.,  430. 

Macbeth,  27. 

Malcolm  III.  (Canmore),  176. 

Malcolm  IV.  (The  Maiden),  60,  172,  266,  301, 

312. 
Robert  L,  4,  15,  18,  28,  39,  46,  53,  61,  123, 
124,  125,  129,  130,  139,  226,  240, 
247,  305,  306,  317,  321,  338,  366. 
395,  397,  407,  419,  431. 
...      IL,  5,  12,  15,   36,   116,  130,   152,   155, 
188,  322,  345,  392,  394,  420,  431. 
...      IIL,  5,  15,  19,  27,   36,   46,  47,  53,  57, 
63,  104,  267,  305,  303,   345,  353, 
395   420. 
William  the  Lion,  27,' 32,  39,  60,  102, 123,  164, 
170,  187,  224,  225,  266,  275,  276, 
300,  301,  304,  369,  371,  395,  431. 
...       IIL,  153,  154,  290,  329. 
...       IV.,  25,  136,  138. 

Kail  Pot,  field  so  called,  393. 
Kames,  Lord,  371. 
Kanes  Well,  423. 
Karamand,  Laurence  de,  202. 
Katermalyn,  203. 
Keil  of  Whitfield,  146. 
Keilor,  10,  14,  15,  16,  17. 
Keith,  Sir  Alexander,  217. 
...      Sir  William,  217. 
...     Robert,  Marischal  of  Scotland,  305, 
Keithock,  6. 

Kellyfield,  John  Laing  of,  145,  146. 
Kennedy,  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  53. 
Kenny,  28,  30,  31,  32. 
Loups  of,  215. 
...      Turpin  of,  30,  31. 
Kenny  Meikle,  117. 
Kenny  Neil,  Wisharts  of,  31,  117. 
Keraldo,  Justice  of  the  King,  30. 
Ker,  Lady  Mary,  24. 
Kerbet,  the,  56,  57,  59,  63,  66. 
Kerr,  Patrick,  of  Drumgeith,  146. 
Kerrs  of  Forthill,  397. 
Kethermaylin,  Rudulph  of,  202,  203. 
Kettins,  Earl  of  Moray  of,  18. 
...       Kirklandsof,  19. 

Malcolm  of  Caithness  of,  18. 
Patrick  of  Ogilvy  of,  18. 
William,  Lord  Ruthven,  of,  18. 
Kildrummy,  Castle  of,  15. 
Kilgery  gifted  by  The  Bruce  to  Peter  de  Spald- 
ing, 366. 
...      Chapel  of  the  Virgin  Mary  at,  366. 
Hermit  and  Hermitage  of,  366. 
Killiecrankie,  Halyburton  fell  at,  25,  154. 
Killievair  Stone,  365. 
Kilry,  Kinlochs  of,  277. 
Kinnaber,  305,  431,  434,  436,  437. 


INDEX. 


455 


Kinalty,  121. 

Kinblethmout,  marches  of,  75. 

Kincaldrum,  28,  146. 

KincardiDe  Castle  captured,  and  part  of  the 

garrison  shot,  327. 
Kingoldrum,  Sculptured  Stones  found  there, 

90. 
Kinclune,  Ogilvys,  Smiths,  &c.  of,  32,  38. 
Kingennie  Chapel,  370. 
Kinghorne,  Earls  of,  16,  19,  145,  203. 
King's  Cadger's  Road,  306. 
Cross,  177. 
Evil,  352. 
Gardener,  353, 
Law,  154. 
Lour,  153. 
Te.inds,  353. 
Kinlochs  of  Aberbothrie,  344,  845. 

of  Kilrie,  277. 
Kinloch  Family,   account  of,   339,    340,    341, 
342,  343,  344. 
David,  of  Aberbothrie,  345. 
...      Sir  Alexander  of  that  Ilk,  340. 
...      Sir  George  of  that  Ilk,  16,  340. 
.  .      Sir  David  of  Kilrie,  Bart.,  340. 
...      George,  M.P.  for  Dundee,  341,  342. 
...      Sir  George,  Bart.,  342,  343,  344. 

Sir  James  Kinloch  of  that  Ilk,  7,  116, 

213,  341. 
Sir  John  George  Smyth,  Bart.,  343. 
Margaret,  131. 
Col.  John  Grant  of  Kilrie  and  Logie, 

118,  119. 
Lieut. -Col.    Alexander  Angus   Airlie, 

119. 
Mansion  and  Lake,  Logie,  119. 
...      Arms  of,  343. 
Mansion  of,  343. 

Antique  plate  in  same — cup  gifted  to 
Meigle  Church  by  Sir  David  Kin- 
loch, 22dNov.,  1693;  aLavacrum 
or  bath  presented  to  the  Church 
on  the  same  day  by  Andrew  Gray, 
344. 
Media3val    stone    font    in    Episcopal 
Church,  Meigle,  344. 
Kinnaird,  Charles,  Lord.  77. 
George,  Lord,  77. 
of  Culbin,  50. 
Patrick  of  Inchture,  15. 
of  Kinnaird,  Perthshire,  307. 
305,  307. 
Castle  of,  332. 
Kinneries,  John  Watt  of,  68,  78. 
Lands  of,  76,  78,  101. 
Kinnochtry,  10,  25. 
Kinoochtriemure,  20. 
Kinnordy,  85,  89,  101,  113,  114,  115. 


Kinnordy,  Loch  of,  92,  115, 
Kinnoull,  Earl  of,  178, 
Kinross,  Sir  .John  of,  240. 
Kirkcaldy,  C.  D.  H.,  146. 
Kirkhill,  jSTairns  of,  335. 

now  Belmont,  8,  333,  335. 
Knox,  John,  314. 
Kyds  of  Craigie,  133,  134,  395. 
Kyd,  Isabella,  157. 

...    Jamesof  Woodhill.  134. 
Kynbredy,  40. 
Kyncarins,  137. 

Over  and  Nether,  137. 
Kynnard,  Raiginaldus  de,  Lord  of  Inchtur,  12. 


Labothie,  373. 

Lacon,  Sir  Edward,  Bart.,  147. 

...     John  Edmund,  of  Duntrune,  148,  149, 
152. 

...     Capt.  John  Mortlock,  147. 
Ladder  Burn,  Glenmark,  229. 
Laing,  John,  of  Kellyfield,  140. 
Montrose,  52. 
of  Renmure,  52. 
Laird,  Admiral,  of  Strathmartine,  281,  283. 

...     Colonel  David,  of     do.,  283. 

Lambertoun,  Alexander,  of,  130. 

Bishop  WilHam,  of,  4,  57. 
Lammerton  or  Murroes  Burn,  161. 
Langleyis,  153. 
Lauderdale,  Earl  of,  52,  127,  140. 

acquired    the  Constabulary  pro- 
perties, 127. 
Laurensons  of  Invereiglity,  63. 
Lauriston,  Straton  of,  154. 
Lawton,  79,  82. 
Law  of  Dundee,  127,  128. 
Laws,  396,  397. 

. . .     Anderson  of,  405. 

...     Colville  of,  405. 

...     Millar  of,  405. 

...     Demsters  of,  396. 

...     Durhams  of,  405. 

...     Ramsays  of,  405. 

...     James  Neish  of,  405,  400. 

...     Mansion  of,  406. 

...     Prehistoric  works  on  them,  406. 
Leacock,  lands  of,  10. 
Leckoway,  61. 
Lednathie,  92,  115,  116. 
Legatstown,  69,  72,  73,  74,  79. 
Leighton,  James,  52, 
Leitch,  two  brothers  drowned,  162. 
Lennox,  Esuie,  Duke  of,  248. 
Leslie,  Sir  Alexander,  247. 


456 


INDEX. 


Leslie,  James,  C.E.,  215. 

...     Margaret  de,  130,  407. 

...     Norman,  130. 

...     Patrick,  130. 

...     Sir  Walter,  130,  247. 

...     Walter,  Rector,  351. 
Letham,  68. 

...     Hugo  Heem  of,  32. 

Lethnot  and  Navar  Parishes. 
Lethnot,  161,  162,  163,  165,  166,  170. 
Church,  163,  167. 

present  erected,  163. 
and  Navar  Churches  were   a    mile 

apart,  161. 
Church  bell  of  Navar  disappeared,  162, 
Parishes  united,  161. 

separated  by  the  Westwater, 
161. 
Two  brothers  drowned  in  it,  162. 
Minister  stipulated  for  a  bridge  to 

unite  the  two  parishes,  161. 
Parishes  served  by  one  minister,  161. 
Episcopal  Church  with  thatched  roof 

erected,  163. 
Last  Episcopal  Minister  of  Lethnot 

deposed,  163. 
Succeeded  by  Rev.  David  Rose,  great 

grandfather  of  Lord  Strathnairn,  161. 
Priests'  Road  to  Lochlee,  163. 
Parish  surrounded  by  Mountains,  166. 
Romish  baptisimal  font,  165. 
Votive  offerings  found  in  St  Mary's 

Well,  164. 
Parish  Witch  and  the  minister,  167. 
Prices  of  bestial  and  provisions,  167. 
Wages  of  male  and  female  servants, 

168. 
Agricultural  and  other   impliments, 

168. 
Highlanders  plundered  the  farmers, 

169. 
Minister  and  family  had  to  retire  to 

Brechin,  169. 
Rental  of  the  parishes,  171. 
Parish  ravished  by  soldiery  of  Mon- 
trose, 1G8. 
Leys,  David  Garden  of,  71. 
Lichton,  Sir  David,  Abbott,  248. 
Lie  Camp,  373. 

Lii'F  AND  Benvie  Parish. 
Beuvie,  Church  of,  172,  173. 

Ghost  of,  and  the  minister,  174. 

Large  ash  trees  at,  174,  175. 

Medicinal  well  at,  174. 

Hamlet  of,  174. 

Sculptured  stone  at,  174. 


Invergowrie,  Church  of,  172, 

erected  by  Boniface,  172. 
Pontificate  of  Pope  Celestine,  172. 
on    a    mound     near    where    the 
"  Flumen  Gobriat  in  Pictavia" 
falls  into  the  Tay,  172, 
the   ruins    are    ivy- covered    but 
roofless,  172. 
Liff,  172,  175,  176,  177. 
...   Church  of,  and  Tower,  175,  176. 
...    Easter,  John  Carnegie  of,  204. 
...   Kirkton  of,  177,  180. 
...    Nether,  177,  178,  204. 
...    Inscription  at,  178. 
...   Bell  at  Benvie  Church,  173, 
...    "Hurley  Hawkin," near  Church,  176. 
Logie,  Church  of,  173. 
Benvie,  Invergowrie.  and  Logie  Parishes  were 

conjoined  with  Liff  Parisfi,  178. 
Invergowrie   Parish   was  suppressed  prior  to 
1618,  and  other  changes  have  since  been 
made. 
Free  Church,  Liff,  206. 
New  Asylum  for  Dundee  district,  206, 
Lindisfarne.  Bishop  of,  351, 
Lindores  Abbey,  129,  130,  136,  138. 
Lindsay,  Alexander,  48. 

Sir  Alexander,  130,  240,  247. 
David  of,  305. 

Sir  David,  of  Edzell,  268,  315. 
David,  58. 
James  de,  12. 
Sir  Jame.i,  Knight,  19, 
Lindsays,  the,  169,  223,  247,  395, 
in  Dundee,  142. 
of  Balcarras,  1 90, 
of  Careston,  01. 
of  Evelick,  20. 
of  Invereighty,  61. 
of  Ochterlonv,  Sheriff,  254, 
Battle  of  Arbroath,  295, 
Tartan,  295. 
Miss,  of  Tarrie,  Mrs  Alex.  Gordon, 

391. 
of  Monikie,  420. 
of  Ardestie,  420. 
of  Bal^avies,  420,  424, 
of  Balhungie,  420,  421, 
of  Carlungie,  420. 
Linens  and  Kelp,  101. 
Lindores,  Abbey  of,  129,  130,  136,  138. 

Loch  of,  26. 
Linlathen,  125,  126.  130,  133,  393,  407,  411. 
Lands  of,  15, 
Supplyd  of,  407. 
Peebles  of,  407. 

William  Gupplyd  and  his  son  of,  407, 
Fithers,  Garden,  and  Strang,  of,  407. 


INDEX. 


457 


Linlathen,  Hays  of  Sandford,  Ogilvy  of  Ogilvy, 
of,  408, 

John  Scrymgeour,  Gourlay,  Vis- 
count Dudhope,  and  Grahams  of 
Fintry  of,  408. 

The  Grahams  of  Fintry  built  Lin- 
lathen  House,  and  called  it  Fintry, 
408. 

Purchased  by  David  Erskine,  W.S. 

Name  rechanged  to  Linlathen,  408. 

Linlathen  remains  in  the  Erskines, 
409. 

James  Erskine  Erskine  of  Lin- 
lathen, 409. 

Ltntrathen  Parish,  207. 
Lintrathen,  207,  210. 

Old  Church  of,  thatched,  210. 
Present  Church,  neat  aud  comfort- 
able, 207. 
Bell  of  S.  Meddan,  208,  209. 
Afriendof  statistical  inquiries,  209. 
His  glowing  account  of  the  parish, 

209,  210. 
"The  Good  Old  Times,'"  210. 
Schoolmasters'  emoluments,  210. 
Loch  of  Lintrathen,  29,  210,  213, 

214. 
Lands  of  Lintrathen,  15. 
Alan  the  Durward  of,  211. 
Durward's  Castle,  21 1. 
Hill  of  Formal,  211. 
Earl  of  Angus  of,  211. 
Earl  of  Douglas  of,  211, 
Umphravilles  of,  211. 
Ballintore,  lands  of.  213,  214. 
Lyellsof,  213. 
Lyons  of,  214. 
The  Durward's  deer  park,  215. 
Knock  of  Formal. 
Easter  Plough  of  Formal,  212. 
William  Japp  of  Middleton,  212. 
Lyell,  Charles,  of  Balintore,  213. 
Lyons  of  do.,     214. 

Property  in,  owned  by  Maormers 
and  Earls  of  Angus,  theComyns, 
Umphravilles,  Douglasses,  &c., 
211. 
Linlathen  House  and  Grounds,  409. 

Cairn  Greg,  account  of,  410. 
Lintrose,  formerly  Foderance,  19, 
Halyburtons  of,  19,  20. 
Murrays  of,  20,  21. 
Mansion  of,  21. 
Weem  found  at,  21. 
Little  Pert,  gifted  to   Coupar  Abbey  by  Sir 
Alexander  Lindsay,  240. 
Kental  of,  in  1542,  240. 
3  M 


Little  Pert,  Montgomeries  of,  240,  241. 

Carnegies  of,  241. 
Livingstons  of  Dunnipace,  &c.,  241. 

of  Bandirrau,  13. 

Sir  Alexander,  219. 

James,  219. 

Sir  James,  13. 

of  Balrownie,  365. 
Live  and  let  live  testimonial,  426,  427. 
Lochee,  178,  179. 

LocHLEE  Parish,  221. 
Lochlee,  161,  165. 

...       Church  of,  in  Glenesk,  221. 

founded  by  S.  Drostan,  221. 
thatched  with  broom,  221. 
stood  at  lower  end  of  Lochlee, 
211. 

New,  erected  in  1803,  221. 

Site  of  Manse  called  Droustie,  222. 
Droastie's  Well,  near  the  Manse,  222. 
...       The  Loch,  221.     The  Mark,  221 

Glenesk  robbed  by  the  Cateran,  223. 
Alexander  Ross,  Schoolmaster,  author 
of     Helenore,    or     The     Fortunate 
Shepherdess,  221. 
Minister  and  Stipend  in  1745,  222. 
Population   Episcopalians   or   Ptomaa 

Catholics,  221. 
Many  of  them  joined  the  Rebels  in 
1715  and  1745,  222. 
...       Episcopal  Church  at  Tarfside,  222. 

Free  Church  and  Manse  in  the  Glen, 
built  by  Fox  Maule,  Earl  of  Dal- 
housie,  222. 
Glenesk  harried  by  Marquis  of  Mon- 
trose, 223. 
Ancient  Lords  of  Glenesk,  223. 
...       Fatal  fever  in  Lochlee  in  1782,  231. 
Then     many     people     begged     wool 

there,  231. 
Then  foxes  abounded  in  Lochlee,  231. 
Also    eagles,    hawks,    badgers,    and 

wild  cats,  231. 
Farmers   then  paid   their  rent  fore- 
hand, 231. 
Rev.    Thomas   Guthrie,    D.D.,    often 
made  holiday  in  Lochlee,  232,  233. 

LoGiE  Pert  Parish,  232. 
Logic  Pert,  Church  of  Logy,  Logic  Cuthil,  or 
Logy  Montrois,  232,  237. 
Logic  and  Pert  Churches  united  in 

1G45,  called  Logic  Pert,  232. 
S.  Martin's  Well  and  Den,  233. 
Old    Church    and    Graveyard     of 

Logic,  233. 
Stones  in  Graveyard,  234, 


458 


INDEX. 


Logie  Pert,  Shields  over  Old  Church,  233. 
John  o'  Arnha,  233. 
Free  Church  of  Logie  Pert,  233. 
New         Do.  Do,,  23-1. 

Daily    Market    on    North    Water 

Bridge,  234. 
Old  bridge  built  by  Erskine  of  Dun, 

235. 
Legends  regarding  same,  235. 
Three  Laws  ot  Craigo,  235,  236. 
Piectors  of  Logie,  236. 
Lands  and  Lairds  of  the  Parish, 

236-9. 
Lands  often  changed  hands,  243. 
The  causes  of  this,  243. 
Limestone  found  about  1780,  244. 
obtained  by  mining,  244. 
Nine  mills  in  the  parish,  244. 
Dress  of  the  inhabitants,  244. 
Artificial  grass  lirst  grown,  1746, 

244. 
Crops  grown  in  parish,  1782,  245. 
Logie,  Dundee,  193. 
...      Church,  173. 

Alexander  lleid  of,  41. 
...      Montrose,  24,  431,  432,  436. 
...      Wishartsof,  90,  117. 
Longus  Gilbertus,  246. 
Lorimers  of  Kelly  field,  146. 
Longhaugh,  289. 
Lour,  Grays  of,  (32. 
Lovat,  Lord,  20,  50,  54. 
Lovell,  Alexander,  131. 

Mary  and  Sybel,  155. 
...      of  Ballumbie,  155,  373. 
Lufifness,  Durhams  of,  158,  159,  398,  400. 
Lude,  lloljcrtson  of,  36. 
Lunan,  the,  44,  45,  257. 

LuNAN  Parish. 
Lunan,  Ogilvy  of,  51. 

Gifted  to  Arbroath  Abbey  by  William 

the  Lion,  245. 
Archbishop  of    St    Andrews    burned 
Walter  Mill  to  death  there  on  29th 
April,  1558,  245,  246. 
Lands  of  Lunan  and  the  Proprietors, 

246,  258,  259. 
Easter  or  Inverlunan,  246. 
...      Col.  Blair  Imrie  of,  252. 

.Mansionhouse  of,  252.  253. 
...      Bay,  252,  257.     Lands  of,  254. 
Kirkton  of,  253. 
Carnegies  of  North  Esk  of,  254,  255, 

25D. 
Hamiltons  of,  254.     Hays  of,  255. 
Earls  of  Panmure  of,  255. 
Ruthvens  of,  254. 


Lunan,  Stewart,  Lord  Invermeath  of,  248. 

Tyries  of,  254.     Youngs  of,  255. 
...       Earl  of  Athole  of,  249. 
...      Guthrie  of,  249. 

Sir  Fi-aDcis  Ogilvy  of,  249. 

Buckie  Den  in,  257. 
...      Gallows  Hill,  258.     Witchpool,  258. 

LuNDiE  Parish. 
Luudie,  Church  of,  260. 

Church  conveyed  to  Coupar  Abbey, 
266. 
...      Kirkton  of,  260.     Castle  of,  268. 
Campbells  of,  268. 
John  Campbell  slain,  268. 
Cliffs  and  Lochs,  260,  272. 
Durwards  or  Lundins  of,  266. 
Duncans,    Earls  of   Camperdown,   of, 
268,  269,  270. 
...       Dighty  Water.  272. 
...       Lyells  of,  267. 

Earls  of  Strathearn  of,  267. 

Hes,  Lord  of  Lile,  of,  267. 

20   acres  gifted  to    the   Prior  of   St 

Andrews,  266. 
Pental  of,  270.     Laurence  Fair,  260. 
Fees,  wages,  &c.,  circa  1750,  27J. 
Village  names,  271. 
Lundie  and  Fowlis  united,  260. 
One  minister  serves  both  parishes,  260. 
He  resides  at  Lundie,  260. 
Each  parish  maintains  its  own  church,  and  has 

its  own  officebearers,  260. 
Fowlis  Church  is  old,  very  interesting,  and  it 
has  many  visitors  ;  Fowlis  Castle  was  once 
a  Royal  Palace,  but  it  is  now  occupied  by 
a  few  cottars  ;  a  wedding  feast  was  held 
in  the  Castle  in  1658,  265. 
Lundin,  Philip  and  Malcolm,  266. 

...       Walter  de,  187. 
Lyall,  David,  of  Gallery,  241,  242, 

James,  of  Gallery,  243. 
Lydels  of  Panlathicj  395. 
Lyell  or  Lile,  Lord,  267,  268. 
...    Alexander,  of  Gardyne,  68,  74,  75,  77. 
...    Sir  Charles,  Kt.,  114. 
...    Lieut. -Col  Henry,  114. 
...    James,  London,  72,  74. 
...    MissS.  G.,  114. 
...    Stewart  of  Kinneff,  74. 
...    Thomas.  Town  Clerk  of  Montrose,  74. 
...    Walter  of  Dysart,  74. 
...    William,  of  Dysart,  74. 

of  Idvies  and  Letham,  311. 
...    Arms  of  Lyells,  114. 
...    of  Balmaleddie,  315. 
...    of  Carcary,  85,  113. 
...    of  Dysart,  315. 


INDEX. 


459 


Lyell  of  Kinnordy,  85,  95,  113,  114. 

...    of  Pitmuies,  84,  85,  114. 

...    Robert,  fell  at  Patna,  74. 

...    The,  315. 
Lyon,  Rev.  Dr,  Glamis,  337. 

...     Cecelia,  58. 

...     David,  of  Kinnell,  48. 

...     Frederick,  58.     Margaret,  109. 

...     Sylvester,  Kinnettles,  and  Kirriemuir, 
96. 
of  Bandirran,  13. 

...     of  Brigton,  21,  58. 


M 


Macbeth,  27. 

M'Beth,  Gilbert,  392. 

Macbeth's  Stone,  349,  350. 

Macdonalds  of  Bandirran,    St  Martin's,   and 

Rossie,  13. 
Macduff,  349. 

Mackenzies  of  Ardler  and  Keilor,  5. 
Mackenzie,  Sir  George  of  Rosehaugb,  17,  19. 

His  cruelties,  325. 

Advice  by  him,  16,  17,  336. 

Hon.  James,  built  Kinpurnie 
Castle,  and  "Privy's  Prap," 
336,  337. 

George  of  Pitkerro,  400. 
M 'Gavin,  Robert,  of  Balumbie,  135,  143,  144, 

146. 
Macgilliduffi,  246. 
MacLagan,  Alexander  Stormonth,  43. 

Rev.  James,  D.D.,  43. 
M'Nab,  James,  of  Arthurstone,  7. 
Macneil,  Captain  Archibald,  52. 
Macpherson,  George,  of  Invereshie,  239. 

Lt. -Col.,  of  Canada,  79. 
Madie's  Well  and  Haugh,  44. 
Maiden's  Castle,  129. 

Mains  and  Strathmartine  Parish,  272. 
Mains,  87,  273,  274,  290. 

...      Old  Church  of,  273,  369. 
...      Castle  of,  274,  292,  293. 
...      The    Diclity    called    "The    beautiful 
stream,"  275. 
called  Mains  of  Fintry,  274. 
The  Celtic  Earls  of  Angus  possessed 

lands  in  the  parish,  275. 
Part  of  the  lands  called  Balargus,  288, 

289. 
Ogilvys  of  Baldovan,  account  of,  276, 
283 
...      Balmuir,  book  of  the  farm  of,  284,  287. 
Wages  and  perquisites  of  farm  servants, 
285. 


Mains,  John  Graham,  Viscount  Dundee,  owned 
Claverhouse,  &c.,  290,  291. 
...      His  estates  forfeited,  290,  291. 
Arms  of  Viscount  Dundee,  291. 
Letter  from  him,  291. 
A  descendant  of  the  Grahams  of  Fintry 

beheaded  in  1592,  293. 
An  old  dovecot  near  Trottick  is  reputed 
to  mark  the  place  ■where  Viscount 
Dundee  was  born,  293. 
...      1760  and  1790  contrasted,  299,  300. 
Maitland,  Constable  of  Dundee,  &c.,  127. 
Owner  of  Dudhope  Estate,  127. 
of    Hatton,    Treasurer,     126,    140, 
142. 

Lady  Elizabeth,  52. 
Malcolm  of  Caithness  of  Kettins,  18. 
Malherbe,  Thomas,  Sheriff,  30. 
Mansfield,  Earl  of,  190. 
Maormers  of  Angus,  84,  211,  360,  384,  385. 
Mar,  John,  Earl  of,  81,  82,  209. 

...     Thomas,  Earl  of,  8,  170. 
Marisclial,  Earl,  59. 
Mark,  The,  224,  225,  226. 
Marshall,  William,  8. 
Martin,  David,  142. 
Martin's  Stone,  296. 

Legend  of,  296. 

Maryton  Parlsh,  300. 
Maryton,  300,  306. 

Church  of,  300,  302. 

Churchyard  of,  330. 

Free  Church  of,  303. 

Law,  303. 

Andrew,  John,  and  Richard  Melville, 

301. 
Rev.  W.  R.  Eraser,  Minister,  306. 
Abthen  Lands,  now  Maryton  Farm, 

302,  319,  320. 
Old  Church  without  pews,  302. 

(Stools     carried     to     sit 

upon,  302,  303. 
Disputes    about  placing 
them,  303. 
Romish  churches  seatloss,  303. 
Bonnyton,  TuUochs  and  Woods  of, 

306,  309. 
King's  Cadger's  Road,  306. 
James  Wood,  fiar  of  Bonnyton.  be- 
headed at  Edinburgh,  308,  309. 
John  Wood  baptised  his  own  illegiti- 
mate child  in  church,  310. 
Robert  Bruce  gifted  Fullerton  to  tiie 

Fullertons,  317. 
Lady  Magdalene  Carnegie's  interest 
in  Old  Montrose  reserved  to  her, 
323. 


460 


INDEX. 


MarytoD,  Original  deed    still  preserved,   323, 
325,  326. 
Earls  of  Middleton,  327,  328. 
Earl  of  Southesk  owns  most  of  the 

parish,  300,  331. 
Carnegie,  t^ir  David  of,  330. 
Mary  Net,  43 J. 

Maryton,  Legend  of    the  Woods'  flight  from 
Bonnyton,  311. 
FuUertons  of  Foulerton   sold   their 
lands  to  the  Earl  of  Montrose, 
317. 
Dysart,  Melvilles  of,  312. 
Sir  Robert  Melville  of,  fell  at  Har- 

law,  312. 
James  and  Andrew  Melville,  314. 
Knox,  Andrew  and  James  Melville, 
were  leading  spirits  in  establish- 
ing   the   Protestant    religion    in 
Scotland,  314. 
FuUertons  left  Maryton,  318. 
They  acquired  land  in   Meigle,  and 
gave  it  their  own  name,  318. 
Maule,  Christina,  76. 
of  Kinnell,  55, 

Fox,  Earl  of  Dalhousie,  162,  171. 
Henry,  of  Inverpeflfer,  109. 
Sir  Peter,  76,  187. 
Patrick,  188. 
Sir  Thomas,  70,  152. 
Sir  William,  124. 
Maulesof  Panmure,  155,   170,   187,   188,  202, 
223,  265,  309,373,  394,  419,  420,  421, 
424,  435. 
and  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  429. 
Mavisbank,  54,  55. 

Maxwell,  Rev.   Uavid,  of  Strath martine,  283, 
298. 
of  Clepington,  140.  141,  145. 
of  Tealing,  106,  132,  145. 
Meathie,  42,  57,  64. 

Kinninmonth  of,  90. 

Mkjgle  Parish,  333. 
Meigle,  8. 

Kinloch    Chapel    now    a    Mortuary 

Chapel,  333. 
Belmont,  a  Grange  of  Dunkeld  See,  333. 
Belmont  Castle,  336. 

has  been  burned  do  wn. 
Repairing  the  Saints,  334. 
Sculptured  Stones  at,  347,  348,  349. 
A  perpetual  Moderator  of  the  Presby- 
tery appointed,  335. 
Privy's  Prap  on  Sidlaw,  336,  337. 
The  "  Bloody  Mackenzie,"  3.35. 
Hon.    James   Mackenzie,   Lord  Privy 
Seal,  335,  336. 


Meigle,  Rev.  Dr  James  Playfair,  337. 
...      Lyon  Playfair,  C.B.,  M.P.,  337. 
State  of  agriculture  in  1745,  337. 
The  country  rude,  337. 
The   people   uncivilized   and    coarsely 

clad,  337. 
People  and  country  transformed  as  if 

by  magic,  337. 
An  enlightened  mind  changed  land  and 
people  in  a  brief  time,  337. 
...      The  FuUertons  of  Fullerton,  3.38,  339. 
Kinlochs,  account  of  the  family,  339 
^  to  344. 

Kinloch  Mansion,  346. 
Monolith  at  Belmont  west  gate,  349. 
It  is  known  as  Macbeth "s  Stone,  349, 
350. 
...      The  Witch  of  CarJean,  350,  351. 
Earls  of  Crawford  of,  345. 
Meegiuch,  Drummoud  of,  269. 
Meldrome,  Sir  Thomas,  46. 
Melgund,  The,  29,  207,  215. 
Melgund,  Loups  of  Kenny,  Cascades  on,  29. 
Melgund,  305. 

Barony  of,  202. 
Melrose,  Chronicle  of,  86. 
Melvill,  David,  burgess  of  Dundee,  313. 

Rev.  James,  44,  352. 
Melville,  Andrew,  301,  314. 
James,  314. 

David  of  Baldovie,  313,  331. 
Melvilles,  The,  312,  313,  314. 
of  Dysart,  312,  313. 
Melville,  Sir  Robert,  of  Dysart,  fell  at  Harlaw, 
312. 
Sir  Robert  of  Murdochcairnie,  68. 
Sir  John  of  Raith,  108. 
Andrew  de,  312. 

Andrew  and  James  did  much  for  the 
establishment  of  the  Protestant 
religion,  314. 
...       John,  301,  313. 
...       Richard,  .301. 
Menzies  of  Halyburton,  13,  19,  26. 

RoViert  Stewart  of  same,  26. 
Hill,  Standing  Stone  at,  177,  183. 
Alexander  of  Fothergill,  22.3. 
Hill  and  Castle  of  Go wrie,  187. 


Menmuir  Parish,  351. 
Menmuir,  Church  of,  351,  352. 

Free  Church  at,  352. 

Louping  Gout,  or  Sibbios,  in,  352. 

Parishioners  were  Covenanters,  352. 

Sufferings    during   the   Civil   War, 
352,  353. 

Thanage  Lands,  353. 


INDEX. 


461 


Menmuir    given    by    David    II.    to    Andrew 
Dempster,  353. 
Account  of  CoUace  of  Balnamoon, 

353,  354,  355. 
Symmers  of  Balzeordie,  360. 
Carnegys  of  Balnamoon,  355,  356, 

357,  358,  359. 
Arms  of  same,  358. 
Anecdotes  of  the  "  Rebel  Laird, "  358 . 
Arms  of  ISymmer  of  Balzeordie,  362. 
Mercer,  Sir  Alexander,  of  Aldie,  112. 
Merton,  Nicoi  de,  57. 
Middleton  Estate,  Lintrathen,  212. 
Earl  of,  159,  328. 

Account  of  family  of,  327,  328,  329. 
Defeated  Montrose,  327. 
His   daughter  married   to   Earl    of 

Strathmore,  328. 
His  debts  paid  by  Strathmore,  328. 
His  future  career,  328. 
Middleton,  72,  73,  79. 

Gardyne  of,  G8,  69,  73,  74. 
Mill,  Alexander,  of  Kinneries,  78. 

...    John  Stuart,  236. 
Millar,  John,  146. 

...      Robert,  of  Muirhead,  206. 
Mills  of  Fullertou,  319. 
...     of  Noranside,  330. 
...     of  Old  Montrose,  330. 
Milne,  Sir  l^obert,  140. 

Robert,  Dundee,  131. 
...      of  Dysart,  315,  316. 
...      of  Mylnefield,  144,  203. 
Mitchell,  Captain,  of  Baldovie,  36. 

Left  £50,000  to  the  Church  of  Rome, 
36. 
Modrid,  348. 

Molison,  Francis,  of  Errol  Park,  142. 
Moncur,  Andrew  de,  12. 

James,  of  Balluny,  12. 
....       of  that  Ilk,  12,  23. 

John,  of  Fawside,  &c.,  53. 

MoNiFiETH  Parish,  87,  111,  118,  368. 
Monifieth,  a  seat  of  the  Culdees,  368. 

Church  built  by  S.   Columba's  fol- 
lowers, 368. 

David  I.  suppressed  the  Culdees, 
368. 

Clergy  of  Rome  succeeded  Culdees, 
368. 

Culdees  of  Monifieth,  369,  372,  373, 
374,  384. 

Church  gifted  to  Arbroath  Abbey, 
369. 

Broughty  Chapel,  369,  370. 

Balmossie,   and  other  Chapels,  369, 
370,  373,  378. 


Monifieth,  Celebration  of  Mass  in  Church,  370. 
Centenarians,  371. 
Industrial  employments  in,  385,  386, 

387. 
Growth  of  Monifieth  Village,  387. 
Prehistoric  Works  in,  404,  405. 
New  HaU,  or  Sabbath  School,  387, 

388. 
Rev.  Dr  Young,  375,  387,  388. 


MoNiKiE  Parish,  413. 
Monikie,  7,  202. 

Craigton  reservoirs,  413. 

Church,  413,  414. 

Free  Church,  with  spire,  415. 

Auchinleck   Castle   and  lands,    415, 

416,  417,  418,  419. 
Downie,  proprietors  of,  419,  424. 
Dentind,  Fiend's  Den,  Cannibals,  424, 

425. 
Hynd  Castle,  425,  426. 
Downie  Uill,   "Live  and  Let  Live" 

Testimonial  on.  426,  427. 
Smithfield  and  its  Lairds,  428,  429. 
Changes  in  labouring  lands  by  oxen 

and  horses,  429. 
Stone  coflans  found  on  Cur  Hills,  &c., 

429. 
Old  names  of  the  parish,  413. 
Monk,  General,  298,  381,  393. 
Monoliths,  349,  350. 
Mootlaw,  Kinnell,  116. 
Montealts  of  Arbikie,  255,  256. 
of  Fern,  57. 
Lawrence  of,  57. 
Richard  de,  247. 
Robert  of,  57. 
Monte  Alto,  William  de,  246. 
Montgomery,  Robert,  240,  241. 
Montpelier,  145,  146. 
Montreathmont  Moor,  47.  55,  319,  373,  374. 

and  Lady  MagdaleneCar- 
negie,  319. 

Montrose  Parish,  430. 

Montrose,  old  names  of,  most  populous  town  m 
Angus,  430. 
parish  called  Logic  Montrose,  431. 
...        Borrowfiekl,     &c.,     gifted    to    the 
Grahams,  431. 
Gillibryde,  Celtic  Earl  of  Angus,  is  a 

witness  to  the  grant,  431. 
Gift  confirmed  by  the  Bruce,  431. 
Gardynes  acquired  the  lands,  431, 

432. 
Hercules  Tailyour  of    Borrowficid, 
423. 


462 


INDEX. 


Montrose,  Name  changed  to  Renny-Tailyour, 
433. 
The  Family  Arms,  433. 
Benevolent  deeds   of  Mrs  Carnegie 

of  Cliarleton,  434. 
Bad  effects  of  a  fast  life,  434. 
Hedderwick  propert}',  435.  436. 
The  Laird  "kept  his  ground  well," 

436. 
The  Church  persecuted  the  Quakers, 

436. 
Angus  Lairds  slain  in  battle,  432, 

433,  437. 
Newmanswallsand  the  Banters,  438. 
Warrant   to   impress    Seamen — the 

Bress  Gang,  438,  439. 
Duke  of,  164,  170,  331,  335. 
Earl  of,  24,  290,  306,  307,  317,  318, 

320. 
his  marriage,  322. 
Marquis  of,  168,  318,  322,  399. 
Old,  288,  300,   303,  306,   319,  329, 
330,331. 
. . .   Lands  of,  given  to  the  Grahams, 

321. 
...    Mortification  of  110  merks  stg. 

from,  322. 
...   erected  into  a  barony,  322. 
...  dowry  of  Hon.  Magdalene  Car- 
negie, 322,  323. 
...    outline  of  deed  of  gift,  323,  224, 
Earl  of,  bankrupt,  323. 
Countess'  interest  reserved  to  her, 

323,  324. 
his   estates    conveyed    to    William 
Graham  of  Claverhouse,  for  his 
creditors,  325,  326. 
Names  of  laods  conveyed,  325,  326. 
Old,  James,  second  Marquis, acquired 

the  estate,  326. 
,.,  James,  third  Marquis,  sold  the 
estate  to  Francis  Hay  of  Bal- 
housie.  326,  327. 
...  acquired  by  the  Earl  of  Middle- 
ton,  327. 
.  .  Marquis  of  Montrose  defeated  at 
Bhiliphaugh    by    Middleton, 
327. 
...  Armies  of.  111. 
...  Marquis  of,  his  battles.  111. 
...  Thomas  Lyell,  Town  Clerk,  74. 
Boyal  Castle  at,  304. 
Gatekeeper  of,  304. 
Basin  of,  302,  331. 
Moravia,  Sir  William  de,  28. 
Mountmorris,  Earl  of,  41. 
Moodie,  Sir  Thomas,  of  Kinnettles,  64,  85. 
Morams,  details  of  the,  371. 


Moray,  Earl  of,  365. 

...'       ...     of  Kettins,  18,  19,  213. 
Earldom  of,  54. 
Countess  of.  18,  53,  216. 
of  Abercairnie,  15,  28,  32,  39. 
Sir  Alexander  of,  246. 
Sir  Andrew  of,  246. 
Mormaers  of  Angus,  86,  91,  102. 
Morrison  of  Naughton,  298. 
Mortimer,  Lord  of  Fowlis,  203. 
Morton,  Earl  of,  15,  25,  242. 

Lady,  25. 
Mowbray,  Sir  John,  225. 
Margaret,  155. 
Mudies  of  Arbikie,  85,  255. 
of  Brianton,  85,  255. 
...      of  Balkellie,  85. 

David,  of  Courthill,  85. 
of  Gilchorn,  85. 
James,  86. 
...      of  Bitmuies,  68,  86,  255. 
James,  of  Scotston,  85,  86. 
Sir  Thomas,  of  Dimdee,  Provost,  6  4 
85. 
Muirdrum,  Erskine  of,  421. 
Muirhead  of  Liff,  Free  Church  at,  206. 
Murchison  of  Balruddery,  189. 
Murrays  of  Arthurstone,  6,  7, 

Patrick,  of  Simprim,  7. 

Andrew,  213. 

Sir  David,  190,  19.3,  202. 

of    Fodderance,   now    Lintrose,  and 

Arms,  20,  21. 
of  Fowlis,  265. 
of  Ochtertyre,  20,  265. 
David,  of  Tulhbardine.  20, 
Mungo,  58. 

N 

Nairns  of  Banderan,  13. 
...  of  Baldovie,  281. 
...      of  Kirkhill  or  Belmont,  335. 

Sir  William,  Bart.,  of  Dunsinane,  428. 
Navar,  161.  162,  163,  165,  169,  170. 

one  of  Lord  Panmure's  titles,  162, 
...       Church  bell  lost,  162. 

Plundered  by  Highlanders,  169,  170. 
Neaves,  Lord,  146. 
Neish,  James,  of  the  Laws,  376. 

William,  of  Tannadice,  140. 
Newbigging,  Dempsters  of,  396,  427. 
Kerrs  of,  401,  427, 
Millar  of,  427, 

Thomas  Drimmie  of,  401,  427. 
U.P.  Church  and  Manse  at,  427. 
Montrose,    now    called  Langley 
Park,  437. 


INDEX. 


463 


Newhall,  lands  of ,  22. 
New  Grange,  Ogilvys  of,  51,  249. 
Newmanswalls,  431,  438. 
Nesbit,  Sir  Philips,  111,  118. 
NicoU,  George,  of  Artburstoue,  7. 

of  Kinclune,  38. 
Nicholas,  Baron,  250,  251. 
Northesk,  Earls  of,  62,  241. 

of  Lunan  Easter,  254,  255, 
266,  309. 


0 


Ochterlony,  lands  perambulated,  29,  30. 
of  that  ilk,  30,  31,  108. 
Alexander,  married  Janet  Maule, 
31. 
Ogilvys  of  Airlie,  49,  54. 

...  of  AuchterLoiise,  104,  268. 
...  of  Baldovan,  276,  277,  278. 
...      of  Beaufort  and  Oiires,  105,  218,  219, 

282. 
...      of  Balfour,  22,  32,  33,  34,  35. 
of  Baldovie,  35. 
of  Barras,  Bart.,  112. 
Lord,  of  Bolshan  and  Braikie,  48,  49. 
of   Braikie  Easter,   New  Grange,  and 
Lunau,  51,  111,  249. 
...      of  Carcary,  104,  281. 
...      of  Clova,  92,  102,  104,  107,  108. 
of  Cluny,  Sir  James,  112. 
of  Cookstone,  32. 
...      of  Duntrune,  149,  220. 
...      of  Inchmartine,  103,  105,  108,  220. 

of  Inverquharity,   55,   105,    106,   107, 
108,  213. 
...      Acccount  of  the,  102,  103,  104,  225. 
of  Airlie  and  Keilor,  15. 
of  Kettins,  18. 
of  Kenny,  31. 
of  Kinclune,  38. 
of  Kinnell,  53.  ' 
...      of  Lintrathen,  53,   103,  108,  211,  213, 

216,  218,  281,  320. 
...      Lord,  73,  212. 

...     in  France  with  Regiment,  112. 
...      of  Peattie,  22,  23. 

of  Powrie  Easter,  149. 
...      Sir  Alex-mder,  Sheriff,  164,   217,   218, 

219,  220,  221. 
...      Sir  Patrick,  Sheriff,  217,  218,  219. 
...      Sir  John,  Bart.,  M.P.,  53,  90,  96,  108, 
111,  278. 
Ogilvy,  Lady  Jane,  278. 

Lady  Juliana- Barbara,  278. 
...      Hon.  Elizabeth,  of  Airlie,  307. 
...      Lady  Elizabeth,  220. 


Ogilvy,  Miss  Elizabeth,  80. 

John,  of  Pitmuies,  84. 
Ogilviil,  Patrick  of.  305. 
Ogilbi,  David  de.  23. 

Ogilvv,  Peter Wedderbiirn,  of  Ruthven,80, 212. 
..."     Eev.  George,  90,  96,  115. 
...      Eev.  Thomas,  10,  96. 
John,  of  Fingask,  108. 
Alexander,  execution  of,  111. 
Walter,  gift  to  Kirk  of  Brechin,  15. 
Sir  Walter,  appointed  Lord  Treasurer, 

216. 
John,  solicitor,  Dundee,  43. 
...      Lands  of,  28,  275. 
...      Arms  of,  278,  279. 
...      Tartan,  295. 
...      Glen  of,  136,  154,  297. 
...      Isobel,  216. 
...      Sir  John,  216. 
...      Arbroath,  battle  of,  295. 
Defeat  of  the,  at,  46. 
Oliphant,  Lords,  150,  157. 

Lords  of  Gallery,  242. 
Old  Lines,  271. 
Old  Montrose,  288,  300,  313,  316,  S19,  329,330, 

331. 
Omachie,  Dempsters  of,  396. 
Pamsays  of,  396. 
Millar  of,  .396,  412. 
Durhams  of,  397,  411. 
and  Laws,  Neish  of,  412. 
Oswald,  King  of  Northumberland,  351. 


Paddock  Stone  at  Bullion,  176,  177. 
Palmer,  George,  of  Kirkton,  294. 
Panmure  Bleachfield,  394. 

Earls  of,  34,  171,  189,  203,  224,  255, 

400,  421. 
Estate,  289. 
Lord,  162. 

Lands  divided,  names  and  value  of 
same,  422. 
Panbride,  Church  gifted  by  Willian  the  Lion, 
and  confirmed  by  John  of  Moram, 
(deMalherb),  371. 
Alexander  Boyes  of,  131. 
Pannemor,  305  ;  Pannebride,  305. 
Panters,  181,  247,  438. 
Pantons,  73,  125. 
Parker,  Lady,  17. 
Parkhead,  Lands  of,  10,  290. 
Parva,  35. 
Paterson,  Minister  of  Peebles  and  Rector  of 

Kettins,  1. 
Paton,  Rev.  David,  of  Kettins. 
PattuUo,  John,  of  Longhaugh,  289. 


464 


INDEX. 


Pearsie,  Proprietors  of,  32,  39,  40. 

Maasion  of,  43. 
PeattieMill.  &c.,  22. 
Peddie  of  Kinclune,  38. 
Peebles'  and  Kettias'  disputes  2,  3. 
Peel,  Lands  of,  212. 
People,  condition  and  emancipation  of  them, 

337 
Pert  or  Little  Pert,  lands  of,  240,  305,  419. 
Perth,  Ruthven,  Earl  of,  375. 
Personal  services,  65. 
Pictavia,  373. 
Pictish  sculptures,  349. 
Picts'  house  or  weem  ia  Liff,  177. 
Pitairlie  and  Castle  of.  420,  425. 
Pitalpin,  177,  182,  201. 
Pitcur,  Halyburtons  of.  9,  13,  19,  23,  25. 
...      Castle  of,  13,  26. 

Cbisholms  and  Fentons  of,  23. 
...      Margaret  de  la  Ard  of  Ereles  of,  23. 
. . .      Halyburtou  of,  fell  at  Killiecrankie,  25, 
Weem  found  at,  2G. 
Pinkie,  battle  of,  15.  110,  437. 
Piterapton,  legend  of,  296,  297. 
Pitkerro,  123,  129,  144.  154,  155,  15C,  157,  158, 
159,  IGO,  IGI,  397. 
Castle  of,  100. 
Durhams  of,  397. 
Pitforthie,  239. 
Pitlyell,  217,  2C8,  272. 

Lyell  of,  84,  85,  114. 
Pitmuies,  Mudies  of,  OS,  255,  25G. 

Sculptured  stone  at,  08,  84. 
Pitnappie,  12G. 

Pitscottie's  History,  424.  , 

Pitskelly,  425. 
Pittarrow,  43,  44,  45. 
Pittendreich,  147,  270. 
Plague,  The,  in  Meigle,  351. 
Playfair  family,  337. 
Polled  cattle,  332. 
Polmonichtie,  373,  394. 
Popes,  87,  172,  301,  413. 
Pophani,  Vice-Admiral,  of  Cardeanand  Potento, 

340. 
Portiucraig,  369. 
Powrie  Easter,  149,  157. 
...      Wester,  218,  275. 
...      Campbells  of,  309. 
...      Lands  of,  284. 
...       102,  103. 
Pow  Bridge,  332. 
Pressock,  Lands  of,  71,  72,  73,  74. 
Prince  Charles,  his  Angus  adherents  in  1745, 

40. 
Pringle,  Lady,  of  Suchill,  Bart.,  52. 
Privy's  Prap,  337. 
Proscn,  The,  43,  92,  109. 


Prosen,  Glen,  42,  43,  102. 
Protestants,  Collection  for,  93. 
Pyott,  Alexander,  of  Fofarty,  60. 
Press-gang,    tlie,     and    warrant    to    impress 
sailors,  438,  439. 

Q 

Quakers,  Fullerton  of  Kinnaber,  and  Barclay  of 
Ury,  436. 

persecuted  by  the  Church,  436. 

their  households  persecuted,  436. 
Quincy,  de,  395. 

QUEENS. 

Anne,  17. 
Elizabeth,  165. 
Mary,  157,  248,  307,  399. 
Mary  of  Gueldres,  273. 
Margaret,  12,  88. 
Queen  Regent,  109. 
Vanora,  8,  348. 
Victoria,  25,  279. 


R 


Railway,  Dundee  and  Forfar  direct,  425. 
Raitts  of  Forthill,  397. 
Rait,  Rev.  William,  202. 

...     William  of  Halgreen,  71. 
Ralph  of  Dundee,  124,  187,  188,  202. 
Rarasays  of  Arbikie,  255. 

of  Auchterhouse,  103. 

Henry,  of  Ardownie,  390. 

of  Balmain,  307,  317,  433. 
...       of  Bamfif,  7,  307. 

Sir  George  and  Sir  James,  391,  411. 

Hon.  John,  of  Dysart,  310. 

Ogilvy,  Rev.,  96. 

of  Kirkland  of  Kettins,  19. 

Robert,  Sheriff  of  Forfar,  8. 

Rankines  of  Mains  of  Dudhope,  127. 
Rattray,  Alexander,  2. 

Col.  W.,  of  Arthurstone,  7. 

Sir  Thomas,  28. 

John,  Ann,  and  Margaret,  346. 

Dr  David,  42. 

of  Downie  Park,  42. 
...       of  that  Ilk,  108. 
Redcastle,  250,  252,  253,  257,  258. 
Regent  Albany,  70. 
Renmure,  50,  51. 
Retre,  John  de,  and  Margaret  de  Mygill,  his 

spouse,  345. 
Ravernie,  211. 
Rebellion,  the,  93. 


INDEX. 


465 


Reformation  and  Sir  John  Ogilvy,  109. 
Eeid,  Andrew,  of  Broughty,  393. 
Bailie,   145. 

Alexander,  of  Logie,  41. 
Fletcher,  of  Logie,  193. 
John,  of  Cairnie,  42,  214. 
of  Auchinlech,  417,  418. 
Robert,  of  Baldovie,  144. 
Renny,  Patrick,  of  Usan,  74. 
Reres,  394. 

Rescobie,  Church  of,  68. 
Lands  of,  76. 
Rescolbyn,  305. 
Resteneth  Church,  172. 

Prioiy  of,   4,  8,  11,  12,  18,  57,   60, 
272  301   393. 
Richard  &  Co.,  Craigie  Mill,  &e.,  239. 
Robertson,  John,  298. 

of  Liide,  36. 
Rochallie,  36. 
Rocking  Stones,  91,  228. 
Rogers,  Charles,  D.D.  and  LL.D,,  70. 
Rollo,  Sir  David,  365. 
Rollock,  Alexander,  72. 

James,  of  Cambeston,  421. 
George,  of  Gardyne,  73. 
of  Duncrub,  12,  19. 
...      Sir  Walter,  Kt.,  72,  73. 
Romans,  27. 
Roman  Camp,  27. 
Rome,  348. 

Rose,  Rev.  David,  of  Lethnot,  163. 
Rosemount,  lands  of,  10,  11. 

Montrose,  431. 
Ross,  Earl  of,  69,  170,  247. 
...     Euphan,  Countess  of,  247. 
. . .     Alexander,  Bishop  of,  69. 
...     Hugh  and  John,  69. 
Rossie,  Bernard  and  Henry  of,  305. 

...      Walter  de,  169. 
Roxburgh,  Earl  of,  24. 
Rutherford,  Margaret,  11. 
Ruthven  Conspiracy,  156. 
Lord,  18,  74. 
of  Ettrick,  and  Earl  of  Forth  and 

Brentford,  74. 
Patrick,  Earl  of  Perth,  400. 
William,  of  Banden,  72,  74. 

of  Gardyne,  73. 
Kirk  of,  395. 
of  Lunan,  254. 
Rupis  of  Broughty,  which    belonged   to    the 

Kyds  of  Craigie  in  1G63,  411. 
Rowan  Hill,  in  Glen  Esk,  Maule's  Cairn  on  it, 
with  inscription  by  Fox,  Earl  of  Dalhousie, 
230  ;  Earl  of  Dalhousie's  death,  230. 


3n 


SAINTS. 
S.  Aidan,  351. 
S.  Andrew,  172,  373. 
S.  Bride,  or  Bridget,  Virgin,  370,  404. 
S.  Bride's  Ring,  405. 
S.  Clement,  131. 
S.  Columbus,  207,  368. 
S.  Cuthbert,  351. 
S.  Drostan,  221. 
S.  Droustie's  Well,  222. 
S.  John,  262,  263. 
S.  Lawrence,  Martyr;  260. 
S.  Madoc  or  Magdalen,  44. 
S.  Malruib,  Confessor,  44. 
S.  Margaret,  12. 
S.  Marnoch  or  Mermocus,  263. 
S.  Martin,  232,  272,  297. 
S.  Martin's  Well,  233. 
S.  Mary,  the  Virgin,  44,  89,  161,  172,  185, 262, 

263,  273,  300,  301,  302,  333,  366, 

373,  419. 
S.  Mary's  Well,  164,  172,  301,  366. 
S.  Mary,  Chaplaincy  of,  131. 
S.  Meddan,  207. 
S.  Miingo,  207. 
S.  Murren,  373. 
S.  Nicholas,  Bishop,  2. 

Crag  or  Craig,  142,  425. 
S.  Ninian,  272, 
S.  Paul,  44. 
S.  Peter,  44,  172,  333. 
S.  Regulus  or  Rule,  373. 
S.  Rufus  or  Maelrubha,  67. 
S.  Salvador,  131. 
S.  Vigeans,  44. 
SS.,  All,  425. 
SS.,  Nine  Maidens,  297. 
SS.,  Trinity,  322. 

St  Andrews,  12,  53,  57,  76,  79,  89,  248,  265,  333. 
Satan  and  the  Minister.  167. 
Satanic  Majesty  and  the  Witch,  350. 
Saughs,  Water  of,  165,  166. 
Scarlett  Nicoll,  129. 
Schaklok,  305. 
Scharp,  Alexander,  132. 
...       John,  133. 

...      William,  of  Pitkethly,  132. 
...       Sir  William,  132. 
Scone  Abbey,  173,  176,  181,  193,  201,  204. 
Scotts  of  Ancrum,  191,  192,  193. 

Sir  William,  Bart.,  of  Ancrum,  191. 
Lady,  of  Balgay,  191. 
Harry  Warran,  of  Balgay,  19t,  193. 
Sir  William,  of  Balweary,  191. 
Arms,  193. 


466 


INDEX. 


Scott,  Susan,  Mrs  George  Carnegie,  434. 
. . .     Her  good  works,  434. 
...     David,  of  Benholm,  434. 
...     of  Logic,   Montrose,   and  Hedderwick, 

.237,  316,  436. 
...     Archibald,  of  Usan,  436, 
...     George  Robertson,  431. 
Scrimeschour,  Nicoll,  139. 
Scrymgeour,   Alexander,   130,   131,    188,    202, 
394. 
'    ...  Sir  Alexander,  125,  126. 

Sir  James,  125,  131,  185,  294. 
ofBaldovan,  281. 
of  Balinsbo,  98,  101. 
of  Balunie,  152,  153. 
of  Dudhope,  176,  20.3. 
of  Duntrune,  &c.,  149. 
Walter,  of  Glaswcll,  131,  132. 
of  Kirkton  and  Tealing,  269. 
Seafield,  Earl  of,  221. 
Seton,  Alexander,  Lord  of  Gordon,  104,  106, 

305. 
Seward,  Earl  of  Northumberland,  350. 
Shannally,  211. 
Sharp,  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  298,  329. 

John,  of  Balmuir,  284. 
Shielhill  Bridge,   Lands,  and  Castle,  94,   120. 

Tealing,  290. 
Schurrock,  Hill  of,  30. 
Scroggerfield,  01. 
Sibbins,  or  looping  gout,  352. 
Sidlaws,  the,  13,  17,  336,  337. 
Simon  of  Meigle,  Lord  of  same,  333. 
Simprim,  Ahirrays  and  Lord  de  Malahide 

8,  346. 
Sinclair,  Sir  John,  of  Deskford,  216. 
Skene  of  Careston,  171. 

...     the  Historian,  372. 
Smiths  of  CaniDO,  6,  7,  136. 
of  Kinclune,  38. 
...      of  Auchinleck,  or  Smithfield,  418,  427. 
Smithfield,   Major  David  Fyflfe  of,   193,  228 ; 
Arms,  428. 
Henry,    of   Glaswell   and  Camno, 

427,  429. 

John  Shicll  of,  and  his  Trustees, 

428,  429. 
Soulis,  Nicholas  de,  267. 

Southesk.  Earl  of.  300,  307,  322,  331,  332. 

Sir  James  Carnegie  of,  24. 

the,  43. 
Speed,  James,  141. 
Spynie,  Lord,  226,  227. 
Standard,  battle  of  the,  265. 
Standing  Stones,  16r),  236,  298. 
Steel,  Captaio  Gavin,  of  Ballintore,  214. 
Steill,  John,  11. 
Stewart,  the,  395. 


Stewart,  Jamea,  High  Steward  of  Scotland, 
318, 
Sir  John,  of  Dernley,  218. 
John,  of  Dysart,  316. 
Alexander,  James,  and  John,  of  Inver- 
lunan,  247. 
Stewarts  of  same,  254. 
Stirlings  of  Glenesk,  169  ;  Castle,  219. 
Stirling,  David,  of  Pittendreich,  147. 

Sir  James,  135,  223, 
Stob'sMuir,  134. 

Stormonths  of  Kinclune  and  Pearsie,  38,  40,  43. 
of  Kinquhirrie,  94. 
of  Lednathie,  115,  116. 
Strachans  of  Brigton,  57,  58,  61,  63,  136,  137, 
153,  154. 
of  Tarrie,  434. 
Strathdichty,  Kirkton  and  lands  of,  282,  294, 

298. 
Stratheam,  Earldom  of,  14,  17,  28,  37,  99,  100, 
101. 
Earl  and  Countess  of,  267. 
Strathmartine,  Kirkton  of,  294. 

Winton,  Rev.  Mr  Maxwell,  and 
Laird  of,  282,  283. 
Strathmore,  Earl  and  Countess  of,  61,  94,  159, 
203,  346. 
Vale  of,  13,  66,  92,  189,  208,  213, 
268,  270. 
Strathdechtyn-comitas,  Mains,  369, 
Strathnairn,  Lord,  163,  164. 
Stuart,  Mackenzie,  James,  6. 
...     Sir  James  of  Bute,  10. 
Sunnyside,  438. 
Sutherland,  Earl  of,  246,  420. 
Symers,  Rev.  David,  2. 

...     of   Balzc'ordie,   fined  £600  for  opposing 
...     Episcopacy,  361, 

■  T 

Tailyour,  Renny,  and  arms,  431,  432,  433. 

Tanuadice  Church,  57. 

Tarfside,  Glenisla,  229. 

Tarrie,  land  of,  431,  437. 

Taylor,  James,  of  Ealing,  21, 

Tayock,  431. 

Tealing,  106,  132,  145,  290. 

Church,  170. 
Thflms,  Alexander,  of  Clepington,  141. 

...     John,  141. 
Thomson,  Rev.  Mr,  of  Lelhnot,  163. 

John,  of  LifiF,  181. 
Tillyarblet,  171. 

Tillybirnie  and  Nathro  lands,  170, 
Tillyquhillie,  171. 

Thornton,  Alexander,  of  Blackness,  194, 
Donald,  of  ...  194. 


INDEX. 


467 


Threepland,  David,  7 ;  lands  of,  23. 

Tory,  Dean,  17. 

Tothill  Hill,  297. 

Trail,  Alexander,  of  Lifif,  181. 

Trees,  large,  336,  343. 

TuUibardine,  Earl  of,  58. 

Tullidelph,  Walter,   LL.D.,  of  Baldovan  and 

.    Balgay,  112,  191. 
Tullidelph  Hall,  281. 
Tullocb,  lands  of,  71,  76. 

of  Bonnyton,  and  their  tenure,  306. 

Walter,  Deputy  Chamberlain  of  Scot- 
land, 307,  347. 

Janet,  of  Bonnyton,  307. 
Tulloes,  71. 

and  Conon  perambulated,  419. 
Turin,  305. 

Turnbury  Castle,  123. 
Turpin,  30. 
Tyries  of  Drumkelbo  and  Lunan,  254. 


Vallams  robbery,  and  execution,  215,  216. 
Valoniis,  Christian,  of  Benvie,  187,  395. 

Sir  Philip  de,  187. 
Vanoras  Monument,  349. 
Victie,  James,  parson  of  Id  vies,  67. 
Vuany,  Vinny,  67,  76,  85. 


W 


Wages,  167,  168. 

Wairistoun,  lands  of,  129,  152,  153. 

Waldegrave,  Robert,  83. 

Walker,  Ilev.  George,  D.D.,  44,  45. 

Wallace  Craigie,  123,  143. 

Constable  of,  143,  144. 
Alexander  Watson  of,  7,  81. 
Wallace,  Sir  William,  124,  297,  298. 
...       Trenches,  297. 

Statue  of  him  in  Aberdeen,  11. 
Provost  of  Arbroath,  79,  86. 
Walter,  son  of  Turpin,  30,  31,  32. 
Wardlaw,  Bishop  Henry,  53. 
Water  Kelpie,  167.  ■       ' 

Watson  of  Wallace  Craigie,  143. 
...      of  BuUiontield,  203, 

Alexander,  of  Barry,  79. 
James,   C.E.,   Manager,    Water   Com- 
mission, 214. 
...      Robert,  of  Shielhill,  121. 
Weather  Reports,  66. 
Watt,  John,  of  Kinneries,  68. 

...     James  and  Isaac,  of  Logic,  193. 
Webster,  of  Balruddery,  189. 


Webster,  James,  of  Clapham,  41. 

Wedderburn,  Sir  James,  41, 
Wedderburn,  Alexander,  133, 

of    Blackness,     190, 
193,  196, 
Alexander,  of  Kingany,  24, 
Charles,  42,  43. 
Dr,  77. 

David,  of  Tofts,  132,  205, 
of  that  Ilk,  203, 
Mrs  MacLagan,  of  Pearsies  40. 

98, 
Mary,  42, 
of  Baldovan,  281, 
of  Easter  Clepington,  140, 
of  Easter  Powrie,  205, 
John,  of  Idvies,  77. 
Sir  John,  Bart. ,  of  Blackness,  77. 
executed,  197,  198, 
ofBallindean,  Bart,,  77. 
of  Do.,  Superior  of  Friockheim, 

80. 
of  Gosford,  25. 
Robert,  131. 

of  Pearsie,  41,  42,  59,  198. 
H.  S.,  of  Wedderburn  and  Birk- 

hill,  206. 
David,  changed  name  to  Webster, 
41. 
Weem  at  Camperdown,  177. 
Wemys,  Sir  John,  of  Reires  and  Kincaldriim, 

262. 
West  Ferry,  lands  and  fishings  at,  373. 
West  Water,  the,  161,  166. 
Wellbank,    lands  and  quarry,  C.   G.  Macrae 

of,  410,  411. 
Whauland,  48. 
Wharncliffe,  Earl  of,  6.  16. 
Whitewalls,  Kinnell,  45,  289. 
Whitfield,  146,  284,  294,  295. 
Widow  of  Arbikie,  255. 
Wighton  of  Milnetield,  203. 
Wilkie,  Duncan,  88,  98. 
Willing,  T,  F.,  of  Philadelphia,  21, 
Wilson's  Prehistoric  Annals,  349, 
Winton  of  Stratlimartine,  282. 
Wirran  Mountain,  162,  166. 
Wise,  Alexander  and  David,  of  Lunan,    141, 
249,  250. 
...     Thomas,  of  Hillbank,  141,  142,  250. 
Wishart  of  Keunyneal,  31,  32. 
of  Logic,  31. 

Sir  James,  of  Pittarrow,  158. 
...      Gilbert,  118. 

John,  Sheriff  of  the  Mearns,  116. 
of  Drum  and  Pittarrow,  312. 
...       William,  155, 
Witch  of  Cardcan,  350,  351, 


468 


INDEX. 


Witch  of  Lethnot  and  the  Minister,  167. 
Woodhill,  Kyd  of,  134. 

•Woods  of  Bonnyton  and  Idvies,  62,  76,  78,  305, 
307,  308,  309. 
Sir  Harry,  of  Bonnyton  and  Idvies,  76. 
Sir  James,  Bart.,  77. 
...      William,  of  BalblaiD,  83. 

Sir  John,  of  Bonnyton,  307. 
■...      of  Craig,  305,  307. 

James,    of  Bonnyton,   an   excommuni- 
cated Papist,  beheaded,  308,  309. 
...     -Patrick,  knighted,  309. 

married  Lady  Ann  Carnegie, 
309. 
John,  baptised  his  child,  310. 
of  Idvies  and  Letbam,  311. 
the,  in  financial  difficulties,  309. 
account  of  the  family,  310. 


Wood,  disappearance  of  the  family,  311. 
Wyllie,  Andrew,  7. 


Yeaman,  James,  M.P.,  135. 
of  Auchinleck,  418. 
of  J^ryburgh,  G2,  100. 
Pitforthie,  202. 
Yeulo  family,  22. 
York  Buildings  Company,  229. 
Youngs  of  Invereighty,  62. 
...     Col.,  36. 

...     Anna,  and  Eobert,  Carnoustie,  73. 
. . .     Sir  Peter,  of  Lunan,  255. 
...     Kev.  Dr.,  Mouifieth,  375. 
Ysaac  de  Forfar,  30.  . 


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